Why doesn't anyone ever reply to my post? this decision could change my life

[Riley21]

So first off I got a ticket for drug paraphernalia(weed residue) NOT DRUG POSSESSION on Feb. 15 this year and got a YEAR of plea of abeyance in my pre-trial appearance on April 19th. So I was thinking of requesting it to be expunged april 19th, 2012. i know the attorney has to send a petition to a court and then they decide to expunge it or not.

I was wondering if the dept. of Nursing or Clinics that I might have to work at during the nursing program at my community college (In Utah), can they see if that misdemeanor B has been expunged or not? I heard that after expungement it doesnt even show on criminal background checks. but i've also heard that Clinics do like FBI checks where they can see EVERYTHING. so is it worth paying $690 to petition to get it expunged or should i leave it. it'll say Dismissed cuz right now its status is Pending until April 19th 2012.

I know it was dumb of me to have something like drug paraphernalia in my car. but i definately had stopped associating with anything to do w/ drugs or ppl who use them. Please dont give me answers like you shouldnt have done it in the 1st place. I just want to move on with my life. I feel so depressed cause I really want to be a Nurse. and my parents don't know that I have the ticket for paraphernalia. I also have a petty theft ticket back in dec. 2008 right when i turned 18. so i think that makes it even worse even though im about to turn 21 this august.

So right now i have my 2 years college completed(including the prerequistes for the nursing program @my community college) I am in CNA classes to get some experience in the field. The program is 2 weeks long. 1st week is classroom stuff, 2nd week is working at clinics. but its kinda confusing cuz i have that paraphernalia charge but the CNA directors said that I will be able to take the class as long as I'm over 16, have no felonies and pay $400. the waiting list for my college's Nursing program is about 2-2 1/2 years(i'll be like 23 or 24 by then). then i'd be doing the program which involves me workin at clinics and I'm not sure if they will accept me. if they dont then i think its over

My Biggest question is i dont want to continue pursuing a Registered Nursing degree if I can't even work at clinics. i'd be wasting so much time and money which i dont have. I have also talked to the HR ppl at some hospitals and they said ppl have had worse charges(like felonies or child/adult abuse) and have still been able to work there. But thats not everyones case... sorry for my life story

[caliotter3]

If I were you I would petition to get this expunged, whether or not you decide to pursue nursing. You would only be helping yourself in the short run not to have something like this lurking in your background.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Do yourself the favor and get it expunged. Why have it follow you the rest of your life if you don't have to? That amount of money is nothing compared to what you would be able to make without having that on your record. Yes, you were wrong in what you did, but many people did/do stupid stuff at only 18 years old. I know I did! So you won't get any judgement from me. Most people are just lucky enough to not get caught.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

We do not answer because we do not know.

We have no magical insight to whether an employer may find this out or allow it to keep them from employing you. To find the answer for that, you would have to take the risk and ask the BON or employers.

I will say that I think that it would affect employment opportunities, that employers do look at public records these days (in addition to facebook, social media, etc) and often access data that does not have to do with nursing care that affects employment issues, fair or not.

As for getting it expunged after only one year of good behavior, that would surprise me. And it would be good to get that off your record, for ANY professional employment opportunities. But do be aware that if the info is out there, a newspaper locally that has a crime blotter or list of court data, that remains accessible for all to see.

out there

[Tiger747]

I think you will find expungement to be somewhat of a waste of money if you want to pursue nursing. By all means get it expunged, as removing it from your "formal" record will help you land other jobs, like Taco Bell or something. LOL

But, like caroladybelle above said, and she is soooo right, expungement does not remove record of the crime from the vast array of databases. To get it removed from everywhere can be done, but I was told it was cost prohibitive.

If you were in Indiana, I could almost guarantee the B.O.N. would give you a "probationary" license and probably have you meet with their drug/addictions councelors before even granting this or allowing you to even take the NCLEX.

A nice young lady who went up before me had a similar charge to yours, and, man, they had her jump through some hoops just to be able to take the NCLEX.

She'll end up with a "probationary" license like I did and will find it isn't worth the paper it is written on.

No way should anyone with any kind of record pursue this field. Sure, some states might be more lenient than others, and there is always that story of "I work with a nurse who has a felony"; but, I am not buying it. Exceptions do not prove the rule. Why waste valuable time and money trying to fill a basket that isn't going to fill up?

Good luck to you!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

1. Check with your state's BON. I have no idea whether they'll care or not, or if it'll affect licnsure.

2. Every job application I've seen only asks about felony convictions. If your license is clean and unencumbered, it will probably be OK.

People make mistakes, and do dumb things. Depriving them from future employment is not the intent.

[MollNick]

I have a family member who is a criminal attorney. If you have it expunged, it will not show up anywhere, federal or state. The BON will not find it, employers will not find it because it will be off your record. And, legally you can answer 'no' to questions on applications 'have you ever been arrested/convicted of a crime', like it never existed. But, it takes a little while before it is removed from your record, but once it is, any background check done, it will not be there. But, during the few week process for the expungement, you will still have the arrest on your state/federal records until they are notified to remove it. Depending on the state you live, there is a period of time that has to pass before a person can file for an expungement. I would recommend contacting a criminal attorney to have your questions/concerns addressed even if you should have to pay for their time in an appointment. Hey, we all screw up, learn from it, don't make the same mistakes again and move on. Don't be so hard on yourself and move on. I went to school with this guy who was a gang leader in his teenage years. He came to his senses, matured. He turned out to be an EXCELLENT nurse. Good luck.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Something is wrong with our criminal justice system if one misdemeanor committed in your teens prevents you from getting gainful employment for the rest of your life. Yeah, that's a way to keep people out of a life of crime.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Something is wrong with our criminal justice system if one misdemeanor committed in your teens prevents you from getting gainful employment for the rest of your life. Yeah, that's a way to keep people out of a life of crime.

I agree. There is something really wrong with a criminal justice system if something this minor at age 18 keeps someone out of gainful employment for the rest of their life. It is almost forcing them into a life of crime, since even McDonalds doesn't like to hire people with a background.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Really, I bet there are very few nurses on this board who can HONESTLY say they never tried marijuana and/or never drank a drop of alcohol while under age 21. I am sure there are some, but I bet they are the minority. Most just don't get caught.