Pre-nursing student arrested for DV, no charges filed

[Anonymust]

Hello,

I am currently a pre-nursing student in California with another year and one class to go before I can apply to my program of choice at SDSU.

In comes the nightmare, this past weekend I was arrested for spousal battery (fingerprinted & held for a few hours on bail), and informed just today that no charges would be filed. Of course I am totally ashamed that I lost my cool in this one irreversible moment, but now I'm just trying to determine how reasonable it is to move forward. My offence is fairly minor, a slap, but the DV laws in CA are very strict, and because a neighbor phoned in a complaint, I had to be arrested. So while the fact that I am not being charged and do not have to appear in court might seem like good news, there will still always be the matter of my arrest showing up on DOJ background checks. No, I will not have to mark the convicted box, but I do have an arrest... for spousal battery!

I have been devastated since this happened and just have this sinking feeling that this might destroy my dream of becoming a nurse. I have never had any trouble with the law, I am a very competitive student, I have a couple hundred hours of volunteer experience at my local hospital, and most importantly, I feel the calling deep down inside of me! Of course I am in the process of interviewing criminal defense attorneys in my area to see if there might be anything I can do to have the arrest removed from my record, some say I can, some say I can't - it all happened so recently, I just need to do more research.

What I am wondering is if there is anyone out there that has a similar history that would be willing to share their experience with me. Will the fact that no charges were filed help my case in any way? Basically every person I talk to says that the arrest will be seen forever, and I can only imagine what the fact that it is battery will suggest to prospective employers. The detective that informed me the police department would not be pressing charges told me that he had written lots of favorable things about my case in the file and that I could provide his name when subjected to background checks, but will that be sufficient?? Has anyone out there found gainful employment in a traditional hospital setting with an unconvicted DV arrest on record? Again, I live in California.

I am so dizzy with al of this, I just wish all of this never happened!! I hope to hear some encouraging words! Thanks :)

[Anonymust]

Urghhhh. Still agonizing over this! I completed a cna course over the summer and was certified by the ca dept of health and human services with no incident. But does that mean the ca bon will accept me? Heck no! I just got news that I was accepted in to my top choice bsn program too. Now I am stressing about the background check needed to finalize entry into that

I finally left my husband at the end of January after several other drunken outbursts and him totaling his car while drunk. I am so heartbroken because on that fateful night two summers ago, I acted in self defense. I was cornered and he was intimidating me. He is prepared to confess all of this when/if necessary, I just don't know if it will be enough. I can't even enjoy the high of being accepted in to nursing school because I am so terrified of being denied down the line at some point on account of this arrest record.

[Jzt1004]

HONESTLY, you'll be fine, you're stressing too much.

*This is not a legal advice, just my humble opinion.

[Jzt1004]

BTW, when you applied for CNA, what did you respond for the criminal section where it asks you have you ever been convicted? AND the other question? I am in Ca too.

[Jzt1004]

Did you ever get your record sealed and destroyed?

[Yummywhoppers]

Hi anonymust. What is your current situation like now? Did you get into the school?

[C.D.Y]

I am also in this same exact situation. I was arrested with no conviction. It is almost a guarantee that someone will get arrested in a domestic dispute, even when only arguing occurs. I did get into nursing school. And I graduate in Dec 18. I hope I am able to test for NCLEX. Anyone else in this situation have the same problem and can shed some light on this situation. Much appreciated.

[FiveYearPlan]

apply to have the arrest expunged.

a classmate did a stupid thing and was arrested on a misdemeanor and had the record expunged. this was in a different state so you should find out what californias stance on expunction is, but if it is an option, any decent lawyer can do it without you even being present.