Pledging with criminal record

[*winter*]

Originally Posted by excelblue

Lane swerving here, but on crimes in general: if it was dismissed, then it doesn't count. Yes, your arrest is on your records, but it shouldn't show up in criminal background checks. It's really up to you whether or not you disclose it, hence the whole point of dismissal.

On a similar vein: suppose you were arrested for a crime you did not commit. You go to court, and the prosecutor couldn't prove the case (since you didn't commit the crime). The case gets dismissed. Yeah, the arrest record is still there, because you were arrested, but it shouldn't be held against you (nor are you a criminal) since it was just an arrest.

Yeah, people can still judge you based on arrests, but unless you're actually found/pled guilty, there's no need to bring it up.

BIG lane swere...and one filled with inaccurrate information.

When it's on your record, it shows up in a criminal background check. In this state if you got stopped for speeding...it shows up on your criminal record check. DO NOT underestimate the amount of information that is available to the general public.

#2...DO NOT underestimate how the accessing general public will respond. If you think it's going to be nicely, clearly you are making assumptions and not speaking from experience.

When it's on your criminal record, people care. Generally they stop reading when the see the words "X has a criminal record." Dismissed or not...most people don't delve that deeply. You were arrested for a crime. That damages their opinion of you.

If it is on the record...and they pull the record ("they" being a job, organization, landlord, etc)...THEY WILL BRING IT UP. Like it's going to be a non-issue at that point. Be prepared with an answer and an explanation that includes how you've changed since that period of your life.

Not being harsh, but this is the reality. It's not fair to color things in a way that paint a completely different picture. If you have a criminal record, it IS a big deal to most people, many of whom will not be shy in pointing this out to the applicant's face, again if said applicant reaches the interview stage. I'm speaking in terms of jobs, but since basically everything requires a background check nowadays, I'm sure it transfers to other situations as well. People WILL have access to it and they WILL form opinions on you based off of this information. Does it mean don't try at all? Absolutely not. Just be prepared for some doors to be slammed. Not everyone cares that you were a kid who made a mistake.

BEST advice I can give is (and it sounds like you already know this, but it bears repeating) keep on doing the right thing and get that b*tch expunged at the earliest opportunity. Once it's expunged you are in a whole different ballgame of "disclosure" but until you file for expungement, it is processed by the court system and formally removed, expect to answer for it in one way or another.