Juvenile misdemeanor charge in Texas

Published

I have a few juvenile misdemeanor charges from Tarrant County in Texas. If I can remember correctly, I was 15 and 17 at the time of the charges and they were for petty theft. I will be 25 years old this year and have not been arrested since (only a few traffic tickets for speeding).

I just graduated from my LVN program this month and am going through the process of getting my paperwork submitted to sit for the NCLEX.

During the entire of the program, I had written that I have NOT had any past convictions or charges. This includes entering the program and a few clinicals (Veterans Affair Hospital and Harris County Jail). I'd assume if Harris County Jail didn't say anything about it, then TBON shouldn't have a problem with it.

I am also a Certified Pharmacy Technician and registered via PTCB and TSBP. I am still currently employed and going on 4 years now with the pharmacy.

What do you all think? Should I call TBON and verify with them?

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

You must disclose prior convictions to the Texas BON. Other people have falsely checked that they have not been convicted on their applications, only to get into deeper trouble when the BON discovers that they have.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac.

I always thought stuff that happened before 18 years old was pretty much washed clean at 18....is this not true? I have no criminal past, therefore I am uncertain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, Hyperbarics/Wound Care, Psych.
I have a few juvenile misdemeanor charges from Tarrant County in Texas. If I can remember correctly, I was 15 and 17 at the time of the charges and they were for petty theft. I will be 25 years old this year and have not been arrested since (only a few traffic tickets for speeding).

I just graduated from my LVN program this month and am going through the process of getting my paperwork submitted to sit for the NCLEX.

During the entire of the program, I had written that I have NOT had any past convictions or charges. This includes entering the program and a few clinicals (Veterans Affair Hospital and Harris County Jail). I'd assume if Harris County Jail didn't say anything about it, then TBON shouldn't have a problem with it.

I am also a Certified Pharmacy Technician and registered via PTCB and TSBP. I am still currently employed and going on 4 years now with the pharmacy.

What do you all think? Should I call TBON and verify with them?

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

Usually juvenile records are sealed. I think I would check that before I brought up information that wasn't absolutely required

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Definitely ask the BON! The FBI background check that they do can uncover just about anything and you don't want to get labeled as being deceitful. Your application can be held up for 4-6 months, or sometimes even up to a year if you fail to disclose everything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In the state of Texas, I know that juvenile records are not automatically sealed/expunged at the age of 18. We are required to personally submit the request to a judge for approval.

Quite lame since I was in high school with a wrong group of people and at the wrong place at the worst time.

None the less, TBON uses L-1 Identity Solutions for background checks. From what I read, TBON supposedly do a statewide check (DPS) and Federal (FBI/NCIC). I know that my juvenile records might not show up via DPS check, but any criminal records (juvenile or adult) will show up via FBI/NCIC check regardless if it was sealed or not. Right?

Many thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

From what I understand, sealed & expunged records, even things that happened when you were a minor show up on the FBI check.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

What do you all think? Should I call TBON and verify with them?

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

Yes. I went to school with a guy who passed the background check for LVN after doing something stupid. I don't even remember what the stupidity was. Then he went to RN school and the BON went to FBI fingerprint checks. He checked no, since it didn't show up on his LVN background check. They found it. He lost his LVN license and will not be able to practice as a nurse in TX due to falsification to the BON, or some such matter.

They have now where you can tell them up front what the issue is and ask them if you need a declaratory order before you pay. IF you don't, then you don't have to pay the extra money. If you do, well - you do. If you don't tell them, though, and they find it, you may never be able to get the license because lying about it is a bigger issue than whatever your original problem was.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes. I went to school with a guy who passed the background check for LVN after doing something stupid. I don't even remember what the stupidity was. Then he went to RN school and the BON went to FBI fingerprint checks. He checked no, since it didn't show up on his LVN background check. They found it. He lost his LVN license and will not be able to practice as a nurse in TX due to falsification to the BON, or some such matter.

They have now where you can tell them up front what the issue is and ask them if you need a declaratory order before you pay. IF you don't, then you don't have to pay the extra money. If you do, well - you do. If you don't tell them, though, and they find it, you may never be able to get the license because lying about it is a bigger issue than whatever your original problem was.

Ouch that really is terrible. The BON sure is a horrible committee...

So I went ahead with my first step and sent a request for records to the custodian of records at the juvenile center that I was charged at. I guess whatever shows up there is what TBON will see.

I also had a few traffic tickets in the past (e.g. speeding, failure to signal); two of the tickets did go into warrants since I completely forgot about them (Arlington Municipal Courts takes months to schedule a court date)...but all have since been taken care of with no repercussions. Must those be reported as well to TBON? If so, where can I find the records for traffic citations?

If I pay for a background check via a FBI-channeler, should I just report to TBON all that shows up on the list?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also another question. Can I register to sit for the exam prior to doing the background check? I'd rather have passed my NCLEX first and then wait for the declaratory order to go through; reason is that the longer I wait, the more stuff I will eventually forget for the exam.

It looks like a few people received their ATT, passed the NCLEX, but was held up due to the background check afterwords.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well I spoke with the custodian of records at the juvenile center and she is working to get them mailed to me. I also asked for certified copies of my court documents but she said that I must get them from the district clerk's office. I called the district clerks office but they do not find any record on me. What gives?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well if there was an order to expunge/seal then it should be hard to find a record. So even if the FBI/TDOJ has no records, you must get a letter head of some sort from the clerk of court stating "no records found" for the BON.

Gather up as much as you can and/or those letter heads of no record found. Write a very profound letter testifying to your mistakes and lessons learned; along with 5 or more personal and professional character witnesses to your past and current good moral standing.

I'm assuming your a guy too? It is bad enough we are men trying to enter a 92% female field, so you can bet squeaky clean or not, we are going to be under the microscope from the time we enter the program till we retire!

If you satisfied a background check to do clinicals, then you "should" be able to take the exam/license, but it may take a long time.

keep us updated..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion