Proof that a record won't hold you back from the job of your dreams

[NaeRN]

At 14 years old, I got into an altercation with another girl. Her parents wanted to press charges. I WAS NOT arrested; however I went down to the police station, got fingerprinted, and took a mug shot .. Then went back home. I NEVER went to court, but agreed to some terms, and the police assured me that if I didn't get in anymore trouble, my record would be expunged upon turning 18. At the age of 16 I got my CNA through a high school program, and I am now a enrolled in the #1 nursing program in the state of mississippi.Well, last week I went to the hospital for pre employment screening , and i got my background check results in the mail on the 20th.... &what do you know BAM!!! There was a battery charge listed ... Well I went to the hospital the next day (yesterday) .. &talked to the HR Rep & I really didn't even have to tell the whole story!! She offered me the position &today I went in to do all my paperwork &screening tests!!! I'm so excited!! I got the job i've been praying for

[NurseKitten, MSN, RN]

Pay the money to get it expunged, get your records sealed, whatever. Just do it. Work OT, work two jobs, whatever you have to do. It will be money well spent.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

Interesting. I was under the assumption that juvenile records were sealed. Mine was. I was arrested at 15 for shoplifting and it never hindered me from getting a job as an adult, doesn't sow up on any of my background checks.

[Sadala, ADN, RN]

That's what I was told ... But it still showed up! I really don't know why, then I talked to a lawyer about getting it expunged and his fees alone were $500 ... The filing fees are an additional $235 so I'm going another route!

I'll tell you what. Considering the cost of nursing school (did I read somewhere up top that you were considering that?) and that you will have to explain this to every employer when its really not even supposed to be on your record, I think $725 is an extremely small price to pay to get it expunged. Seriously. I know that at 18 it probably seems like a lot of money. But I would look either into going pro se (filling the paperwork out yourself, representing yourself, and paying a filing fee) or going ahead and working extra hours to save for the amt the attorney wants. It will pay of in the end for you I believe.

[NaeRN]

I'll tell you what. Considering the cost of nursing school (did I read somewhere up top that you were considering that?) and that you will have to explain this to every employer when its really not even supposed to be on your record, I think $725 is an extremely small price to pay to get it expunged. Seriously. I know that at 18 it probably seems like a lot of money. But I would look either into going pro se (filling the paperwork out yourself, representing yourself, and paying a filing fee) or going ahead and working extra hours to save for the amt the attorney wants. It will pay of in the end for you I believe.

What I meant by going another route is that I'm getting it taken care of another way.. Yes, I understand that it needs to go, and true, $725 is WAY less than nursing school .. (My tuition is almost $20,000) ! I think I said prior, but maybe not ... my fiancé's uncle is a police sergeant and told me he would get it off for me!