Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
My question involves criminal records for the state of: Arkansas I was arrested 30 years and charge with a possession charge with was written up as a felony, but the amount was very small, not enough to be considered as a felony i already did the research on the amount, however the cops were dirty and took money from me and didn't put that in their report. But the money they took was from inheritance i recieved from after my father passed he was in the military and once I turned 18 year old i was issued this money. This bank is change to a new name where my money was kept. This charge was later expunge without any gun restrictions. The department does not have any record that long anymore. I was once hired as a reserved police Officer in Tennessee which was not an issue in the hring process in regards of my background.
But when i applied for a Police Job in Arkansas I was hired by the Department but Arkansas Law Enforcement standards says different even thou it was expunged in Arkansas. They didn't even read the expungment the court order discharged me without a felony conviction or one impose of such and has not retrictions or disqualifications it clearly says that in the expungment order. Now I have applied for a full pardon which will take up to two years to be approved. Any suggestions on what can be done else?
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
Unfortunately, expungements and pardons won't hide your prior criminal and drug history from LEO departments doing background checks. Many will have issues with hiring former criminals and druggies for a position of high trust. All you can do is be 100% honest about your history and prove your on going drug free status.
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
For clarity, are you stating that you were convicted of a misdemeanor some thirty years ago, that the misdemeanor is the only criminal offense on your record, and that you have obtained an expungement of that charge?
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
Thank you for responding however I have no other charge or criminal offense since then I was a young teenager. That is the only offense i have on my background other than that i would have a clean record except for 30 years ago.
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
Then it is probably not going to be a huge issue if you are seeking a job in law enforcement.
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
Thank you for responding No it was written as a felony however the judge read the report and granted me a expungment and the order stated that I was discharged without a felony or disqualifications of one imposed of a felony.
The attorney i had is now a prosecutor for the state. He advised me that it was not enough to charge you of a felony but if happened so long ago and he didn't represent me during that time ago.
some police background agency hear that and don't even look into the situation any further.
They just assume that you are a bad apple.
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
I suspect the answer will vary from state to state.
In California, any person convicted of a felony (or of a crime in another jurisdiction that would be a felony in California) is prohibited from employment as a California peace officer [Government Code §1029(a)]. This prohibition holds even if the conviction was sealed, expunged, or set aside. It may also apply to any convictions that were subsequently reduced to a misdemeanor occurring on or after January 1, 2004.
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
Well good if that the case that rule would not apply to me because this issue occured in 1988
Re: Will an Expunged Criminal Charge Keep You From Getting a Job as a Police Officer
That's the law. That doesn't mean an police department can't create hiring guildlines that extend that date further into the past.