Juvenile restricted records(arrests no convictions or charges) and TBON.

[tanya_r]

Hi I was accepted to nursing school here in Texas about a month ago and I'm getting all my requirements done. This is a dream come true to me I can remember being a child and asking for medical kits and being fascinated by visiting my pediatrician. Well here I am getting a chance to fulfill my goals and now I have these dumb mistakes that I made when I was 13 years old. I was not living with my parents at the age of 13 and was caught shop lifting twice and arrested for missing school. I was arrested however I do not remember being finger printed. It's been 9 years since then and have never been arrested for anything else. As soon as I found out that I would get printed or the TBON I started reading and realized that some people had problems because of sealed juvenile offenses. I have gone to the county clerk, the juvenile, and the DPS trying to find all of my arrest records and have found NOTHING. They all tell me they have absolutely no record of me even being there! I asked if this could be because of the restricted access and they act like they don't know what I am talking about. I will have to submit my fast pass application for fingerprint appt and now have to make the decision to choose 'NO' on questions where they ask about my criminal record. I really don't remember the dates of when it happened or what exactly went down. Should I even disclose this information if they really have no record of anything? Please I feel so stressed and upset I just want to start my nursing journey and be the best nurse I can be!

[Nathifalr26, LPN]

You need to contact whoever the arresting officer was. One of my old classmates had a similar situation and it caused issues for him in clinicals and eventually the program. Definitely try to do your research. I wish I knew more but that's really all I know.

[tanya_r]

I'm assuming I would have to know of my arrest record to find out his info . I have gone everywhere and they have nothing, a lady told me its like it never even happened I have 0 information to give you.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I moved your post to the Licensure with Criminal History forum. You should contact the board of nursing and ask — you don't have to give them your name. I'm sure you wouldn't be the first to ask something like this! Good luck.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Just because you were picked up by police does not mean you were booked. If you weren't booked, there will be NO record of being arrested. You say you don't remember being finger printed. Were you ever brought before a judge? Did you have a lawyer involved after the 'arrests'?

Did you spend more then an hour or two at the station waiting to be picked up by a parent or guardian? I ask this because often, police will pick up young teens and just hold them until they are picked up by a guardian. They never book them or file charges. Something like this will not end up on your record. It sounds to me like this is the case.

When I was a teen I was at a local bowling ally with a friend and his adult brother. Adult brother grabbed a bottle of vodka and invited me out to his car to share it with him. A security guard saw this, called the police who took us both to the station. They called my parents to pick me up, and they booked and charged him with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. My punishment came from my parents, not the law. I was never booked, just asked to sit down in a chair until my mom got there.

[Guest 973412]

I am in IL. I know it's a little different here, but I had a similar situation. I was arrested for shoplifting when I was 16 years old. I was brought to the police station, fingerprinted, my parents had to come pick me up, and I had to pay some fines. Never had an issue after that. I was told this record would get sealed at 18. I never had it come up on a fingerprint background check for work or school. But about two weeks after I passed the NCLEX, I received an email asking me to explained what happened on this day and to get certified court documents with the official seal. I went to the courthouse and they couldn't find ANYTHING on me. They searched my juvenile records and everything. Doesn't make sense to me that the court house couldn't find anything on me but apparently the IL BON could. The courthouse printed out a background check for me that said "no records found," and stamped it with the court seal. Sent this in with a letter explaining what happened. About 5 business days later I received my license.

So yeah, even though it was a juvenile arrest that the court house had no record of, I still had to explain myself to the BON. However, I've heard IL is more strict with this kind of stuff than other BONs. I would call your state BON and ask. I was kind of embarrassed to call but the person on the phone was very helpful. I didn't give her my name or any specific information so it's not like the BON will link it to your application.