Effect of Dismissed Charges on Future Employment and Law Enforcement Jobs

[Actus Reus]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Georgia
I am a 22 year old that was in police academy until I was arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting. The charge is dropped but I want to know. Will the arrest ruin my chances of ever landing a good job? Is my dream of becoming an officer done? The incident happened less than a year ago.

No prior criminal history what so ever. On the dean's list in college.

[Beth3]

No, it will not forever ruin your chances of getting a good job. You did something really dumb but as time goes by, an arrest for a misdemeanor becomes less and less important to your career prospects - if you never repeat the crime again of course.

If you still wish to be a law enforcement officer, you should contact the police academy and see if it's possible for you to re-enroll.

[Actus Reus]

No, it will not forever ruin your chances of getting a good job. You did something really dumb but as time goes by, an arrest for a misdemeanor becomes less and less important to your career prospects - if you never repeat the crime again of course.

If you still wish to be a law enforcement officer, you should contact the police academy and see if it's possible for you to re-enroll.

The department I was with said I can re apply in a year but did not go into details as if I would be taken seriously or not. Anyone can apply but not everyone will get taken serious is what I'm saying.

[LawResearcherMissy]

Anyone can apply but not everyone will get taken serious is what I'm saying.

That's true of any job, anywhere.

[aardvarc]

The academy being willing to get paid to train you is one thing. Finding a law enforcement agency willing to hire you, with a property crime against you as an adult WHILE attending a law enforcement academy, is VERY a different matter. Although many departments may have policies that would not automatically disqualify you from law enforcement employment, the reality is that police officers simply MUST be trustworthy to be around all sorts of temptations in their daily job duties - from watching over evidence, cash, drugs, and other forms of other people's property, and you'll need to know going in that this will be a substantial knock against you when you're in a candidate pool with dozens of other applicants without such a property crime in their background.

[ESteele]

OP, you stated the “charges were dropped.” Can you explain further? Did the prosecutor decline to prosecute and dismiss the shoplifting charges on his or her own initiative? Or did you plead to a “probation before judgment” or similar disposition to the charge? The difference may prove significant for you.

Law enforcement agencies recognize that “innocent” individuals are occasionally arrested in error (especially in “other” jurisdictions). You may eventually get the benefit of the doubt if the prosecutor unilaterally declined to prosecute. If, however, you pled to a PBJ then a law enforcement agency may take a long, hard look at you prior to offering you to rejoin the academy.

At the end of the day, in addition to waiting a year to reapply to your former academy, you may need to explore applying to other police academies to see if you can resuscitate your potential police career somewhere else.

[Actus Reus]

OP, you stated the “charges were dropped.” Can you explain further? Did the prosecutor decline to prosecute and dismiss the shoplifting charges on his or her own initiative? Or did you plead to a “probation before judgment” or similar disposition to the charge? The difference may prove significant for you.

Law enforcement agencies recognize that “innocent” individuals are occasionally arrested in error (especially in “other” jurisdictions). You may eventually get the benefit of the doubt if the prosecutor unilaterally declined to prosecute. If, however, you pled to a PBJ then a law enforcement agency may take a long, hard look at you prior to offering you to rejoin the academy.

At the end of the day, in addition to waiting a year to reapply to your former academy, you may need to explore applying to other police academies to see if you can resuscitate your potential police career somewhere else.

The charge was dismissed after I attended a class.

[ESteele]

It sounds like you went through a type of diversion program. In most other contexts, that would be fine. The charge is dismissed. You move on with your life, hopefully more wisely than before.

In this instance, however, the police academy presumably concluded that the evidence unquestionably indicated you had, in fact, engaged in shoplifting. Consequently, the academy dismissed you notwithstanding the dismissal of the underlying charge.

As stated above, in addition to waiting to reapply to the academy, you may want to consider (1) charting a course to have the shoplifting charge expunged; (2) exploring other police departments which may employ you; and (3) considering alternative types of work, e.g., security officer, military, at least for a year or two, to put more distance between you and this charge.

[Actus Reus]

It sounds like you went through a type of diversion program. In most other contexts, that would be fine. The charge is dismissed. You move on with your life, hopefully more wisely than before.

In this instance, however, the police academy presumably concluded that the evidence unquestionably indicated you had, in fact, engaged in shoplifting. Consequently, the academy dismissed you notwithstanding the dismissal of the underlying charge.

As stated above, in addition to waiting to reapply to the academy, you may want to consider (1) charting a course to have the shoplifting charge expunged; (2) exploring other police departments which may employ you; and (3) considering alternative types of work, e.g., security officer, military, at least for a year or two, to put more distance between you and this charge.

What do you think would be better for me in a few years out of the two options I have:
1. Go back to school and finish my BA degree or
2. Enlist in the army
?
I figuered if I enlist in the army, I will have a few years of solid work experience under my belt but I will still lack a degree.

[ESteele]

I think either option would enhance your prospects of becoming a law enforcement officer down the road. In light of the foregoing circumstances, a persuasive argument can be made a criminal justice degree or similar degree (with stellar grades) may overcome your earlier lapse in judgment and your dismissal from the police academy. On the other hand, years of excellent service to your country in any branch of the armed forces would also likely overshadow your earlier difficulties in the eyes of a prospective police department. You have to thoughtfully weigh the pros and cons of each decision as to how they will affect your life.

I wish you well.