Oklahoma Board wants explanation of arrest

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Is this routine stuff I can answer how the board is requesting?  Not sure if I need an attorney to answer the board about dismissed charges.  I was arrested for domestic violence.  I had an ex-wife that had bipolar episodes and chased me around the house with knives, etc.  When the cops showed up someone was going to jail and it was me.  Went to court and had the case completely dismissed with a good attorney.  Hopefully sending them a letter that nothing happened will get this taken care of.  I also have the option of filing an expunction, but not sure if that is even worth it.  Not completely certain if everything is still visible.  I don't know how to ask if expunction would satisfy the board also.  It's $450 in court fees to file for one.  Tempted to do it, but not sure what would happen if I can't produce records they asked for.  Just wondered if anyone else has had a similar situation or advice?

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Seek the advice of an attorney, preferably the one who represented you in the initial case. I've never experienced this so I can't say for certain how it works but that's what I would do.

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44 minutes ago, NurseBlaq said:

Seek the advice of an attorney, preferably the one who represented you in the initial case. I've never experienced this so I can't say for certain how it works but that's what I would do.

Thought maybe someone had been thru something similar.  I was charged in Texas and now I'm in Oklahoma so not sure how that works either.  They asked for things that maybe don't even exist in Texas court records.

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Appears you may have to contact TX to get the records. Again, try reaching out to the attorney on the case to see if they have records or can advise you on what to present to OK. Hope it works out for you.

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Sounds like it shouldn't be a big deal.  Contacted an attorney that deals with the board.  He said write the letter and call him if I need to appeal but shouldn't be an issue.  May work on the $400 expunction this Summer.  

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How did everything go? Any updates?

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13 hours ago, prayersformyatt said:

How did everything go? Any updates?

Sorry, I forgot to update.  A few days after submitting my letter they allowed me to test.  I'm an LPN.  I just gave a brief description of the events and I guess they accepted my explanation.  I still have plenty of time to get this expunged.  I wonder if I will have to deal with it again?  I don't know if employers care about dismissed charges?  Its in my file and won't be revisited on future license applications with Oklahoma.

I wasted a little bit of money applying early since I'm still working on my RN this next year.  Hopefully speeds up the process so I can work right out of school.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, home care, corrections and psych.

I'm late to the party, but I forgot about a charge from almost 25 years prior when I applied for my OK license. I had been a correctional nurse for years and had passed several background checks without a hitch UNTIL APPLYING FOR THAT LICENSE! Never assume something "won't show up". Consult an attorney with BON experience before doing something that may bite you in the butt later on. 

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14 hours ago, truckinusa said:

Sorry, I forgot to update.  A few days after submitting my letter they allowed me to test.  I'm an LPN.  I just gave a brief description of the events and I guess they accepted my explanation.  I still have plenty of time to get this expunged.  I wonder if I will have to deal with it again?  I don't know if employers care about dismissed charges?  Its in my file and won't be revisited on future license applications with Oklahoma.

I wasted a little bit of money applying early since I'm still working on my RN this next year.  Hopefully speeds up the process so I can work right out of school.

Thanks for the update! Good luck in RN school and usually dismissed charges are simply that, its just the BON being difficult. You should sail through next time around with the BON.  I'm currently waiting for my ATT so I can take the PN NCLEX. My issue is I had two charges in 2012 and did a deferred sentence and afterwards got it expunged in 2015. I sent the Oklahoma board of nursing  my certified copy of my expungement and the explanation they requested. I'm impatiently waiting on my ATT. August 12, 2021 (next week) makes it a month since I sent in the info they requested and August 21, 2021 makes it two months since my application was processed.  

Why am I waiting this long for my ATT!? The charges happened in 2012! It was dismissed after my expungement. When I called a few weeks ago, she said she couldn't tell me anything but it was accepted on the 12th of July. Another nurse student in my class had the exact issue and she got her ATT almost two weeks ago. It's just frustrating because I don't know when I'll get my att or what to do at this point.

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11 hours ago, By-a-thred, RN said:

I'm late to the party, but I forgot about a charge from almost 25 years prior when I applied for my OK license. I had been a correctional nurse for years and had passed several background checks without a hitch UNTIL APPLYING FOR THAT LICENSE! Never assume something "won't show up". Consult an attorney with BON experience before doing something that may bite you in the butt later on. 

The problem is Oklahoma. How can the BON make we wait for my att after my record was expunged, sealed, closed off? My arrest record simply shows dismissed, why am I being held hostage for this foolishness? 

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1 hour ago, prayersformyatt said:

The problem is Oklahoma. How can the BON make we wait for my att after my record was expunged, sealed, closed off? My arrest record simply shows dismissed, why am I being held hostage for this foolishness? 

I had no idea it would cause me this much trouble.  I'm glad I will never have to go thru this in Oklahoma or the other compacts states for my license.  It may pop up if I move elsewhere.  The paperwork people at the BON told me it can take up to 6 weeks.  I submitted the explanation and it was sent to an investigator.  From there they supposedly present it to the board.  I'm not sure if this is done at the monthly meeting but possibly.  That could explain the long delay.  I think with the nursing shortage why would you want to slow someone down from going to work that is free and clear from any criminal charges?

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I graduated from nursing school in Oklahoma. I had a classmate who had a domestic violence conviction several years prior. He had to appear before the board in order to explain. Unfortunately for him, his appearance was scheduled for the day that my entire class attended the BON meeting, so we heard all of the details.

The story might have ended here, except for this: The board allowed him to sit for the board exam, but they gave him a restricted license - a kiss of death for a new graduate looking to start a career. He applied for reciprocity in New Mexico and got a license without restrictions.

When I moved away, I filed the paperwork to inactivate my RN license there. They never processed it. My Oklahoma RN license is listed as lapsed. Not that I ever intend to use it again, mind you.

 

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