NJ Disorderly Persons Charge

Nurses Criminal

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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??????

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.

Thank you for your response and do understand your point. I wanted to be clear that I was only pointing out that some people think its "ok" for people to steal, lie, etc; and such defend this. I find it upsetting, especially when nurses think that this is acceptable behavior and/or thinking. Yes, people do make mistakes, however stealing, and such are never ok for anyone and should be instilled when you're a child, thus sets your values, moral compass, etc. for life.

Thank you again for sharing your story. In your daughter's case (and I'm sure many others) upon receiving the background check, the school is indeed given correct information as your daughter violated a municipal ordinance law However, for this to be shown as "criminal" activity is insane. Perfect example of why certain laws need to change.

Good luck to her in the future.

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I know this is an old thread, but I am curious as to how things turned out - not sure if things vary by county or not. If any of the posters are still around, I'd love to hear how things worked out.

I live in Pa now, but went to school in NJ. I have a disorderly conduct from the mid 90's. When the school did a background check as part of clinical requirements, this didn't come up. Why are people saying that offenses from even 20 years ago are still an issue? Obviously they are not, not always anyway, or mine would have been an issue.

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Specializes in GI/ geriatrics.

I am a new grad. finished school June 24 2011. Took my NCLEX 8/19/11 and passed on the first try! today is 9/27/11 and I still have NO license, which means NO JOB!!! I am 42, I've been in healthcare for years. Even worked for the state of NJ Dept. of Health in the WIC dept. as a Cert. Med. Assistant. I've had atleast a half Doz. criminal background checks which nothing ever showed up, untill now of course. When I had just turned 18 I bought a used car stereo for my first car from a nieghborhood boy. The next day I was charged with recieving stolen property. I un knowingly purchased a stolen radio! That was the ONLY time in my life which i have ever been in trouble with police. I recieved PTI ( pre trial intervention). I later had the charge expunged. So I naturally answered NO to the question on the application. Well surprise! It showed up. And the best part is, NO one will answer any questions!!! So now I'm out of school, out of un employment money, have no license, no job, no income, tons of bills, about to lose my house and christmas is right around the corner! What will I tell my kids?! Sorry kids, although Mommy worked her butt off for the past 3 years to make a better life for us, this year for Christmas we'll be moving to the homeless shelter!

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Hi

Doesn't the BOD accept and reject on a case by case basis? Doesn't it matter that it was more than 20 years ago?

I have a disorderly orderly persons from Jan 2011 and my name is about to come up on the list for acceptance for the January 2011 nursing program. Do you think there is any hope for me? Should I go to the school first and tell them and if I do, what documentation should I be prepared to bring with me?

This, too, is my dream and I made a terrible error and I hope it does not define the rest of my life. Expungement cannot be done for 5 years and I live in NJ.

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I thought I was two years in some cases. When did the incident occur? Was it shoplifting/ I would be up front with the program, Most schools have rules regarding your " criminal" history What school is some more strict... I unfortunately have been in the same situation so you can PM if you would like

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Hi - I would love to PM you but I don't know how or if I am eligible because I have not been on this forum very much. I did read the watch the PM tutorial but there was no option for a private message. I do know that it is 5 years for an expungement because I have contacted a lawyer.

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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.

wow, that's a little judgmental on your part, wouldn't you say? I wasn't aware that all nurses must be beyond reproach, perfect angels, above the rest of the human race. You are very naive if you think they are.

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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?

The schools don't really care about the student's criminal background - it's the clinical location facilities that require these checks- i.e. the hospitals, nursing homes, wherever clinicals are done. And yes, you are right, the board will probably, if your daughter writes them about her background and how things have changed etc etc - there would most likely be no problem with her getting a license. Have you tried different schools? Have you talked to a lawyer? There are lawyers that specifically deal with nurses and legal situations that apply to nurses.

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I am a new grad. finished school June 24 2011. Took my NCLEX 8/19/11 and passed on the first try! today is 9/27/11 and I still have NO license, which means NO JOB!!! I am 42, I've been in healthcare for years. Even worked for the state of NJ Dept. of Health in the WIC dept. as a Cert. Med. Assistant. I've had atleast a half Doz. criminal background checks which nothing ever showed up, untill now of course. When I had just turned 18 I bought a used car stereo for my first car from a nieghborhood boy. The next day I was charged with recieving stolen property. I un knowingly purchased a stolen radio! That was the ONLY time in my life which i have ever been in trouble with police. I recieved PTI ( pre trial intervention). I later had the charge expunged. So I naturally answered NO to the question on the application. Well surprise! It showed up. And the best part is, NO one will answer any questions!!! So now I'm out of school, out of un employment money, have no license, no job, no income, tons of bills, about to lose my house and christmas is right around the corner! What will I tell my kids?! Sorry kids, although Mommy worked her butt off for the past 3 years to make a better life for us, this year for Christmas we'll be moving to the homeless shelter!

I know someone who did the same thing - answered NO on the application, then something turned up in her background. I suppose she had to reapply, explain why she answered NO the way she did - she didn't think it would show up. Instead of being about to take the NCLEX in July after graduating, she had to wait till October. Can't you reapply, explain what happened? Things should work out...oh, and by the way, the same person I mentioned didn't even find a job till the following summer. So I wouldn't stress too much about this, lots of nurses in NJ are having trouble finding work now anyway - maybe things will be better on the job market by the time you get all this worked out.

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I know this thread hasn't been active for a bit but i wanted to chime in. I went to LPN school in nj about 3-4 years ago. The school ran the background check, nothing came up. I took my NCLEX-PN in NY(had a job there at the time), no problems. Transferred my license to NJ end of 09 beginning of 2010, NOTHING came up. I applied for a job in a LTC facility in NJ, got hired, and shortly after received a phone call from HR saying something showed up on my background. A disorderly persons from 2005!!! They said unfortunately they couldn't hire me unless i got a written letter from a lawyer stating what the charge was, and all this other nonsense. I didn't have time to deal with that or the money, as i was enrolling in a RN program. The RN program ran another background, NOTHING came up, i was able to start the program.

Completed the program, took my NCLEX RN in NY, just got it carried over into NJ. NOTHING CAME UP in my background.

Now here's where i'm worried, i have job interviews lined up in NJ, i'm worried my "disorderly persons" will show up, and they won't hire me. No one likes the story "when i was young and stupid i swiped something." I just reached the point where i can expunge the record, but thats a lot of money, and until i get a job, i can't do it.

So what do i do? Tell the job ahead of time? Wait for that dreaded call from HR?

How come this LTC facility last year was able to see that charge, but nothing was flagged with NJ?!

:mad:

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JamiR369 Have you heard anything regarding the status of your application yet? I'm kinda in the same boat. I contacted the BON and was told my application was sent for review 10/11/11. I'm just trying to get an idea as to how long this whole process is going to take, and I'm pulling my hair out in the process!!

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