Getting Licensed in California with a Criminal Record

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Hello fellow nurses I am a registered nursing student looking for advice about past criminal history to report to the board

I am a registered nursing student with a past criminal history. When I was thirteen years old my friend and I at the time (who was also my age) were arrested for felony vandalism. I was fourteen years old when I was charged with my felony vandalism and I was put on probation for three years. A few months later after my fourteenth birthday I was arrested for misdemeanor petty theft. Because I was in the process of getting placed on probation for such a serious offense (my felony charge), the misdemeanor petty theft case was dismissed, but the charge still remained on my record. I spent three years on probation and doing over eighty hours of community service and even gotten taken off of probation a year early for good behavior. Unfortunately I was still being a rebellious teenager at the time and did not learn my lesson because shortly after I was taken off of probation I was also arrested with a second petty theft that got charged as an infraction when I was 16, which was dismissed with community service.

I do not have any excuses for my past criminal history except being young, dumb, immature, and lacking serious discipline in my life. I went to a psychiatrist while in school and was put on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications. The medications seemed to make things worse so I eventually stopped taking those and then when I graduated from high school everything sort of just clicked for me. I wasn't distracted by my "friends" anymore and wasn't trying to fit in with the wrong crowds. I spent the next seven years going to college and getting a degree. I have not been in trouble with the law since then (except a speeding ticket when I was eighteen ) and have completely changed my life around. I graduated from college a few years back and have been going steady and strong in nursing school ever since. I have also volunteered at a local hospital to give back to the community.

Although I am in my twenties now and and my only past criminal history was from when I was a minor I am still worried about getting licensed. I went to the courthouse to get documentation verifying the charges and proof of rehabilitation and the court house told me they do not have access to sealed records, so they only gave me the disposition of the misdemeanor petty theft. I went to the police station and court house to try and get the incidence report and disposition for the infraction petty theft and the court house could not find anything, and the police station could not give me an incidence report. Although the lady at the police station told me I do not have to report sealed records because the board can't have access to sealed records, I am not sure If i should just disregard such a serious case. I also did a live scan background check to see if the charges still existed and NOTHING came back not even my petty theft's. How do i prove the charges against me and provide proof of rehabilitation if I cannot even prove that I was charged with these crimes in the first place? I know the board takes into account the severity of the crimes and how long ago they happened. All of these charges were from over ten years ago.

I take full responsibility for my behavior. I was very young, dumb, and immature at the time.I don't have a problem confessing and owning up to my mistakes, but I am worried about proving that these charges exist and providing correct documentation supporting my rehabilitation. Please any advice helps I am very worried about my license being delayed.

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Since these both occurred as a minor, do you even have to disclose it? Wouldn't the files have been destroyed once you turned 18?

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kearsleyRN

The felony vandalism and the infraction petty theft files were detroyed, but regardless I'm pretty sure you still have to disclose minor convictions, I am just not sure how to disclose it if I can't get any proof that I was convinced in the first place

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