NJ Disorderly Persons Charge

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Im a nursing student (level 3) and have a disorderly persons charge against me for shoplifting- a stupid pair of cheap sunglasses!!! Im concerned that I will be turned down to take the NCLEX based on this charge. Im unable to expunge my record at this time. From what I'm reading on these boards, the BON can see all charges whether expunged or NOT. So, I suppose expungement doesn't really make a difference?

I have an appt to see an attorney next week to figure out the best way to approach this. I suppose I will need to notify my school advisor. Im totally embarrassed and afraid they are going to tell me to quit. I have spent the last 5 years going to school at night and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. This would completely ruin my life if I cannot pursue this dream.

Anyone from NJ have any advice, similar stories? Has anyone been through this process with BON? Any SUCCESSFUL stories??????

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Specializes in L & D, Med-Surge, Dialysis.

You don't need to involve your school regarding your case unless they rerun your background check. Just be honest and answer "YES" when doing ELIGIBILITY TO TAKE NCLEX. If it's conviction/dismissed case just answer yes. Just be prayerful!! WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!!

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I was wondering if you found out anything about your situation, as I am in the same exact position. Disorderly persons offense...nursing III... What a terrible situation, due to my own stupidity...

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Hello all,

I am in the same situation. Doesn't it suck. I am still taking my prereqs...Anatomy/Physiology is a bummer for me. I been out of school for 15 years. So I got a 'D' instead of the acceptable 'C' needed to earn the credits. None the less, I am concerned about my charges as well (shoplifting). I would hate to go all thru the prereqs, etc... and be disqulified from th program later on.

What have you guys come up with? has anyone been before the BON yet? Good results I hope!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could take back what was done. I wish that only felonies were considered for this process. I think NJ is harder than any other state. What is it with NJ? We got these high taxes, low wages, and strict guidelines. But we are here so can't complain. I just hope we all make it thru this.

Any info... please inform.

Thanks,

nursing student

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BCC grad here -

They ran background checks 2 times on us. A second IS a possibility - dunno if it is certain. Just my experience.

Can't hurt to have certified/notarized copies of your court disposition papers ready.

Does anyone think it strange that they way you satisfy questions about an arrest is by supplying a PIECE OF PAPER? They can't verify - let's say - a not guilty or nolle pros vs. a conviction electronically and independently?

Imagine verifying your license, school transcripts etc. with a paper trail? yet the disposition of even a violent felony will be via a paper document. Jeeeesh

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They CAN verify it electronically....but that costs $, so they force you to get certified copies.

Whatever!:uhoh3:

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Hi All....the news is not good! Before you apply to a New Jersey nursing school I advise you to get your criminal record completely clean (that may mean waiting the 2 years to have a municipal offense removed from your record). By the way a municipal offense is not a "crime" but it shows up on your NJ Criminal Background Check. If there is anything on the NJ Criminal Background Check, you will most likely not be admitted into a nursing program at any NJ school. If you are like my daughter (now in her 30s and has a 4.0GPA), you have no hope at all. She has completely turned her life around after getting 3 municipal disorderly offenses in her early twenties, but because she accummulated 3 municipal disorderly offenses NONE of them can be expunged. They will be on her record for her entire life. Her hope of becoming a nurse has been crushed. Ironically, the NJ Nursing Board would most probably permit her to be licensed in NJ because she has no criminal convictions and she has truly turned her life around.

Call your state representatives because this is nuts! Offenses that are not crimes should not be on the NJ Criminal Background Check!!! By the way, if you committed a felony and you had it expunged, you could be admitted to a NJ nursing program, but would most likely not pass the NJ Nursing Board when it comes to receiving your license. Where is the logic?

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Specializes in Float.
Hi All....the news is not good! Before you apply to a New Jersey nursing school I advise you to get your criminal record completely clean (that may mean waiting the 2 years to have a municipal offense removed from your record). By the way a municipal offense is not a "crime" but it shows up on your NJ Criminal Background Check. If there is anything on the NJ Criminal Background Check, you will most likely not be admitted into a nursing program at any NJ school. If you are like my daughter (now in her 30s and has a 4.0GPA), you have no hope at all. She has completely turned her life around after getting 3 municipal disorderly offenses in her early twenties, but because she accummulated 3 municipal disorderly offenses NONE of them can be expunged. They will be on her record for her entire life. Her hope of becoming a nurse has been crushed. Ironically, the NJ Nursing Board would most probably permit her to be licensed in NJ because she has no criminal convictions and she has truly turned her life around.

Call your state representatives because this is nuts! Offenses that are not crimes should not be on the NJ Criminal Background Check!!! By the way, if you committed a felony and you had it expunged, you could be admitted to a NJ nursing program, but would most likely not pass the NJ Nursing Board when it comes to receiving your license. Where is the logic?

Studentsmom what county do you live in? What county did your daughter try for Nursing School? If you don't mind I was trying to ascertain whether what you say is true for all of NJ or just your county?:confused:

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Hi Again,

Every nursing school in NJ is required to do a criminal background check as required by NJ State regulations. Some schools also do a motor vehicle department check (this may be required by the agreement the nursing school has with the individual training hospital), but is not required by state regulations. When the student completes her training, the State Board will run both the criminal background check and the motor vehicle check. All offense will show up for the State Board even those that have been expunged. Any expungments obtained are to prevent a prospective employer from seeing those offenses. However, if you have three or more municipal disorderly persons charges (even if you received them twenty years ago), those charges cannot be expunged according to NJ State statute. You need to determine what the agreements are between each NJ nursing school and their training hospitals. I presume, the training hospitals have their own set of hiring criteria above and beyond those the NJ State Board requires for licensure. I made a few calls to different nursing schools around the state; their basic answers were you cannot have anything appear (even municipal disorderly person offenses) on your criminal background check. I'd rather not disclose the county because that could identify my daughter. She has had enough disappointment, her career plans were crushed.

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Specializes in Float.
Hi Again,

Every nursing school in NJ is required to do a criminal background check as required by NJ State regulations. Some schools also do a motor vehicle department check (this may be required by the agreement the nursing school has with the individual training hospital), but is not required by state regulations. When the student completes her training, the State Board will run both the criminal background check and the motor vehicle check. All offense will show up for the State Board even those that have been expunged. Any expungments obtained are to prevent a prospective employer from seeing those offenses. However, if you have three or more municipal disorderly persons charges (even if you received them twenty years ago), those charges cannot be expunged according to NJ State statute. You need to determine what the agreements are between each NJ nursing school and their training hospitals. I presume, the training hospitals have their own set of hiring criteria above and beyond those the NJ State Board requires for licensure. I made a few calls to different nursing schools around the state; their basic answers were you cannot have anything appear (even municipal disorderly person offenses) on your criminal background check. I'd rather not disclose the county because that could identify my daughter. She has had enough disappointment, her career plans were crushed.

Hi studentsmom

I understand the sensitivity your daughter's predicament and was in no way trying to identify you or her. I also did extensive research into the NJ statues concerning expungements and the like and your information didn't exactly match mine. I already know what's expungable and what's not, I know about the approval of clinical sites for students with crimimanl histories or not and I know that there are Nursing students that get in with criminal histories. I was just trying to ascertain what county has such strict rules as to exclude all prospective students if anything comes up on their backgrounds because I've never heard of that.

However, I respect your desire for complete anonymity. :)

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I'm sorry as I JUST DON'T GET IT WITH ALL THIS STEALING, AND/OR other criminal problems and you're going to be a nurse. Sorry, we all make mistakes, but this is seriously embarrassing to hear of anyone, muchless, future nurses.

Good luck to you.

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kty1 --- Some offenses that appear on a NJ criminal background check are not crimes, but schools for some reason cannot tell the difference. In the case of my daughter, a neighbor complained she was playing her stereo too loud. My daughter received a summons, and she was found guilty of violating a municipal ordinance. This appears on her NJ criminal background check.

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