DUI / APPIC Question

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Hi,

I'm a 4th year clinical psychology student who is planning on applying to internship this fall. I was convicted of a DUI in 2003 and cannot expunge this from my record due to the state that it occurred in.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do in this circumstance? I'm planning on applying to research oriented internships that specialize in neuroimaging and neuropsychology research. I am regarded as a competitive applicant by my professors but am worried that this stupid and careless mistake will haunt me the rest of my life. I've been told by some not to report this on my APPIC applications and to rather mention it in person if asked. Others have advised against this idea and to report it up front. This obvious fear is that this is a huge strike against me that can be regarded as a convenient way to weed my application out.

I'm also worried that this infraction will preclude me from working in federal programs such as a VA or even applying for NIH funded grants.

Does anyone have any info on this issue? I make no excuses for this conviction other than being an immature 22 year-old at the time.

Thank you all for your time. NNRC
 
I can't give you specifics until I know which internships you are appling to; however, an intern at my externship site in LA was convicted of a DWI in MO a year before she became an intern and had no problem

Furthermore, you may not be able to get the conviction expunged but can get it SEALED.
 
Wow, that's a tough one. APPIC does have a listserv that you can subscribe to (if you didn't know already). You might want to post it there (if you haven't). Does the app specifically ask about being convicted of a crime? You'd think I could remember since I spent so many hours looking at mine. Apparently I've created a mental block. I do know, though, if you get a placement at a VA they send all sorts of paperwork, which does ask about it. So if you are applying to VA's might be best to mention it up front because it will come up later.
 
Mention it upfront when required. If it's not required, don't bring it up. Don't lie about it, but don't wear it as a scarlet letter either. If it was a one time incident over 5 years ago, most will just chalk it up to one bad mistake when you disclose. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is perfect.

Mark
 
report it when asked. if the APPIC has a thing about a felony, then you are required to check it. i t would better to be matched somewhere less desirebale than be kicked out for lying on your application.

any VA will run an extensive background check on you. it will come up. they require insane numbers of personal references, etc. mine took months to clear. they even called up my god mother (not joking). they might pass you on it. they might not. but lying to the feds is ,IMHO, a huge mistake. and a crime.

also: you might need to avoid any nuclear medicine imaging research as this occassionally requires a fissable materials liscense, which has fairly stringent background checks.


having said all that: judging by others' behavior at conferences, i doubt the PIs would care about your past.
 
PSYDR said:
having said all that: judging by others' behavior at conferences...
Click to expand...

I remember APA in New Orleans, it seemed to double as a spring break trip for some....and I'm not limiting this to the younger crowd.

Ultimately I think mentioning it on the APPI (which is req.) is advisable, and then if you choose to mention it anywhere else....YMMV. I think it gives a spot to explain any issues, which I'd probably write something short but to the point.
 
I forgot to metnion that the AAPI, the internship application that every site you apply to sees and evaluates you on, has a question about convictions for anything other than traffic violations. You may have to admit the DUI on that. You may want to download the AAPIC now at:

www.appic.org

If I were you, I would print out the APPIC form and take it to a lawyer to see if there is anything you could do about the DUI. Man, I am terribly sorry for this predicament. Internship is stressful enough without having to worry about this **** You may want to check out www.recordsremoval.com and see if they can help you out ASAP. As legal things like this take a while to clear up, you need to start investigating this today
 
I was also convicted of a DUI in 2004. After graduation, I applied for an RA postion at the VA in San Diego. I admitted to the conviction on my application, passed the extensive background test, and got the job.

I'm not sure if internship requirements are different, but I'd assume the VA policy is universal. A lot depends on your PI. Mine is a prestigious alcohol researcher, but I was honest with him at the time of interview and he gave me a chance.

Best of luck!
 
Hi all,

I appreciate all your input and feel a little better about this predicament. I'm going to review the APPIC forum on this issue and speak with an attorney. The state where this occurred forbids any type of removal, sealing, expungement etc. for DUIs. A bit draconian in my opinion. Thanks again for all your unbiased attention to this issue. NNRC
 
Don't post it on the APPIC listserv. The directors of training can all see that, as can all your future colleagues, so it'd be akin to announcing the issue to the world. I have no idea what the answer is, but I would talk to your DCT about that. Obviously you don't want to be dishonest, but you don't want to avoid bringing it up either.
 
Hi,

Set up an account on APPIC and realized that my name would appear on the post...Hence I'm not going there for this concern...Man this is really annoying...I can expunge a drug possession, assault, or burgulary but a few drinks under the legal limit = I've committed a "violent crime" in MADD's opinion (whom I empathize with to a point)...Ok, I'm done lamenting...Thanks again for all your input.
 
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but you're talking about a DUI. Think about all of the other people who made a "bad decision" and will NEVER have an opportunity to even go to college let alone get into a Doctoral program. I think you are worrying waaay to much. You are smart and I genuinely believe in most people's willingness to forgive. Trust in yourself.
 
Nah, I agree with your reality check. For the past five years, I haven't been all that concerned about this issue. This resurgence of anxiety occurred only recently when I called my lawyer and learned that it couldn't be expunged. I just don't want my four rewarding and productive years as a Ph.D. student to be tainted by this prior mistake. Again, I appreciate everyone's input and feel much better!
 
I had a friend in med school who also had a DWI conviction that could not be expunged due to the state in which he was convicted . What he had to do, is go to the prosecutor who pursued the case 3 years prior and ask him to expunge it. Although states may say they don't allow expungments, sometimes prosecutor's will be lenient and go back and expunge it anyway. The prosecutor did expunge it because he my friend had gotten in no more trouble and it would have destroyed his med career.

Maybe you should try that. I just can't believe there isn't a way to get this expunged. I can only believe that if you have to check "yes" on the APPIC form, it is really going to hurt your chances of gaining an internship.
 
Edieb,

I appreciate the info and your concern. I'm currently having my uncle who's an attorney contact a colleague in the state where my conviction occurred to see if there are any loop-holes. Thanks, NNRC
 
Hi NNRC!

It sounds like you were in the same position a couple years ago that I am now in and I am freaking out. I received a DUI in 2006 and am applying for my pre-doc internship this year. I am hoping you will still be able to see this post and can offer some insight...or anyone else for that matter. Since the application process has changed a bit this year and we have to pay crazy amounts for applying to more sites, I am wondering about any strategies I may employ when selecting sites. Should I apply to a very large number of sites? Are there places I definitely should NOT apply to? Any advice from anyone is much appreciated. Oh, and I am definitely disclosing this on my application where it asks if I have ever been convicted of anything other than a minor traffic violation. Contrary to what some believe, it is not a felony but still will not look good on my application. 🙁 Thanks for anyone who can help!!
 
I dont have this delimma, but a friend of mine in my program (who is now straight-edge and clean) was pretty into drugs during her teens and early 20s. She is now 29. She took practicum at the same VA as I did last year and had no problems with the background check. She had multiple convictions for possesion, as well as handful of other drug and etoh-related misdemanors. None of it seemed to be a problem. I think what they are looking for is if you are currently using/abusing, or have otherwise been convicted of violent crimes, fraud, drug trafficing, etc. My thought is, if my friends multiple drug offenses were still ok with the VA system (which has some of the most extensive background checks), then most other places will not exclude you for similar offenses either (ie., DUI).

My only concern would be that 2006 is still relatively recently. As an employer, I would be much more concerned about hiring someone if they were abusing alcohol in the past couple years (and while in grad school), vs if the incident was 10 years ago and their record has stayed clean since.
 
erg923 said:
I dont have this delimma, but a friend of mine in my program (who is now straight-edge and clean) was pretty into drugs during her teens and early 20s. She is now 29. She took practicum at the same VA as I did last year and had no problems with the background check. She had multiple convictions for possesion, as well as handful of other drug and etoh-related misdemanors.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what state your friend was in, but that part is very important. For example, a possession ticket (for MJ) in CA is only a misdemeanor, and actually comes off your record in 2 years if it's a first-offense. In addition, MIP tickets or similar misdemeanors don't really matter very much, VA or otherwise. There are also many ways that convictions for drug crimes (e.g., possession) can get plea bargained into lower offenses (e.g., disturbing the peace) depending on the judge, circumstances, etc. From what I can tell, DUIs seem to be trickier in many ways.

Just to help anxiety a little, I know someone (recently) who reported a DUI on their APPIC and they ended up with interviews at some prestigious sites, and was matched at a well-respected VA.
 
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