TX pre-nursing student needs advice...public lewdness charge from former career as stri

[Charlotte-]

I'm not really sure how to pretty this up so I'll just get right to it and hope everybody is kind.

I apologize in advance for the long post.

In 2000-2001 I was a single mom working as an exotic dancer so that I could support

myself and my children without having to rely on public assistance or working 80 hour weeks and never seeing my kids. Unfortunately this was right around the time there was a big push from city council to shut down Houston's 'gentlemens clubs'. This was the reason for multiple police raids of the strip clubs.

For those of you who think only the "really nasty" girls are arrested in topless club raids, I can testify that this is not the case. The paperwork on my first arrest read that "the officer was able to determine a color contrast between nipple and breast through the layer of latex" the city required us to apply. In other words, it was a political game the city chose to play with the club owners.

If the club was outside the city of Houston the dancer arrested was charged with public lewdness, inside the city and it became violation of SOB (sexually oriented business) license.

I was arrested twice, roughly a year and a half apart and got one charge of public lewdness and one violation of SOB liscence charge. Neither arrest resulted in a conviction.

Now that I have finished the prereqs for nursing school, I would like to start

applying to nursing programs but I am not sure how to handle my arrest record

so that I have the best chance of being approved by the BON.

My options as I see them are: To pay to have one of these charges expunged

and file a declaratory order with the BON on the second or I could file the declaratory

order on both charges without getting either expunged or I could get one

charge expunged and file the declaratory order on both charges.

Does anyone know which option the BON would look most favorably upon?

Does anyone know of a nurse who had charges of public lewdness and/or violation of SOB license and was still able to get her nursing license?

Thank you for reading. Any answers to my questions would be greatly appreciated!

[Jzt1004]

any answers?

[Charlotte-]

I'm still hoping someone can answer this question too. When I called the BON they told me it didn't make any difference if I got the charges expunged or not. Not sure if that's correct or who else I can ask. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[onehope67]

Are you able to get both of them expunged? To me that would be your best bet, but second would be to get one expunged and then get a declaratory order on the second. Regardless of what you do, the BON will see the arrests. Getting an expungement would be ideal as hospitals would not have access after graduation. Best of luck to you!

[MyPrnPleaseBSN]

girl, just go ahead and tell them the truth. Expunged or not, TEXAS BON WILL FIND OUT regardless, trust me! ! Explain your situation, send in all court documentation and avoid a delay in your application process. Good luck!!

[Red Kryptonite]

You have no convictions, and this was 15 years ago. There is nothing violent, drug- related, or having anything to do with taking advantage of anyone. Maybe I'm naive, but I agree with the last poster. Just lay it all out and include a statement pointing out that there have been no further arrests that you're bettering yourself and would appreciate their assistance by not standing in the way. Unless you absolutely have no choice, it seems like an awful waste of money to try and get charges expunged that they would be able to find anyway.

[Evelyn Blake]

You can email me @ eblake513@Yahoo and I’ll tell you my same experience

[TriciaJ, RN]

I'm thinking at this point your best bet would be to contact an attorney familiar with Texas BON issues. The rest of us can only speculate on what the Board will do.

Good luck!