Accepted...Worried about background check record

[WorriedDentalStudent1]

ill update

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[FeralisExtremum]

On one hand, it would be tough to see them holding dismissed charges against you. On the other hand, the diversion sentence suggests you actually did commit a crime and had the charges dismissed as part of a program and not necessarily due to your innocence. But you answered honestly when you said you weren't convicted, and the charge is not the most serious offense. I can only guess, but I'd say a dismissed misdemeanor shoplifting charge probably won't result in a rescinded acceptance.

Out of curiosity, why didn't you have your record expunged? That should have avoided it showing up on your background check entirely.

 

[WorriedDentalStudent1]

On one hand, it would tough to see them holding dismissed charges against you. On the other hand, the diversion sentence suggests you actually did commit a crime and had the charges dismissed as part of a program and not necessarily due to your innocence. But you answered honestly when you said you weren't convicted, and the charge is not the most serious offense. I can only guess, but I'd say a dismissed misdemeanor shoplifting charge probably won't result in a rescinded acceptance.

Out of curiosity, why didn't you have your record expunged? That should have avoided it showing up on your background check entirely.

in my state your record is permanent so there is no way to completely get rid of the dismissal charge

 

[Danielqta]

Hey everyone I was hoping for some opinions or if anyone you know or if you have been through this situation??

Ive been accepted to two dental schools that require the Certiphi Background check.
Two years ago I was charged with misdemeanor for shoplifting but I got the charges dismissed.
On the aadsas and supplementary applications it only asked if I was convicted and so I said no since the charges were dismissed.
I ordered my certiphi CBC just to see what it would look like and it shows up on my background check as
Charge:
Count 1: Shoplifting - concealment
Charge Type:
Misdemeanor
Disposition Date:
XX/XX/XXXX
Disposition Type:
Dismissed
Disposition Details:
Dismissed
Sentence:
6 months diversion - completed
When the dental schools see this on my background check do you think they will rescind my acceptance? I recently got hired at a job and when they ran my background check they just told me it was clear, so I assumed they didn't care about dismissed charges.
Anybody been in this same situation? I see a lot of threads with similar situations but the posters never seem to come back and update the thread on what happened.

I'm surprised that this showed up. Dismissed cases usually don't pop up on Certiphi. I think the reason it did show up because it looks like your charges were dismissed because you did a 6 month diversion program? That might give the impression that it was dismissed, not because you were charged under false pretenses, but because a deal was arranged. I'm not trying to imply guilt here; I'm just giving my interpretation with the limited experience that I have in this matter.

I'm not sure what to say besides send in your app and see what happens. You're going to have to send it regardless if you want to go to dental school. I don't know how they would react because it is relatively recent.

Hopefully things work out. Please keep us posted on what happens next.

 

[WorriedDentalStudent1]

I'm surprised that this showed up. Dismissed cases usually don't pop up on Certiphi. I think the reason it did show up because it looks like your charges were dismissed because you did a 6 month diversion program? That might give the impression that it was dismissed, not because you were charged under false pretenses, but because a deal was arranged. I'm not trying to imply guilt here; I'm just giving my interpretation with the limited experience that I have in this matter.

I'm not sure what to say besides send in your app and see what happens. You're going to have to send it regardless if you want to go to dental school. I don't know how they would react because it is relatively recent.

Hopefully things work out. Please keep us posted on what happens next.

I was definitely guilty of shoplifting a small item but it has definitely changed my outlook on everything. I always thought most other people who got their charges dismissed got it dismissed through a pretrial diversion program of some sort. Just sucks that this is showing up.
Im just debating whether I should email the schools about it before I pay the deposit or if I should just cross my fingers and hope they don't care about charges that are dismissed.

 

[FOX_ONE]

definitely call before placing the nonrefundable deposit.

best of luck

 

[Dipdoc]

Does anyone know how long we can put off paying the background check deposit? I'm trying to wait till next month of possible. Bills to pay.

 

[Danielqta]

I was definitely guilty of shoplifting a small item but it has definitely changed my outlook on everything. I always thought most other people who got their charges dismissed got it dismissed through a pretrial diversion program of some sort. Just sucks that this is showing up.
Im just debating whether I should email the schools about it before I pay the deposit or if I should just cross my fingers and hope they don't care about charges that are dismissed.

Some people get charges dismissed by agreeing to give up your DNA and fingerprints. It's really unfortunate that this is popping up for you. They might be forgiving, you never know. Like others have said, your charges were dismissed. Dismissed cases shouldn't be held against you.

 

[xerxes106]

Unfortunately dismissed doesn't mean it disappears. People with dismissed traffic violations still have it on their record, just says dismissed. I wouldn't think it'd affect your acceptance, then again I'm not an ADCOM, but you might want to be proactive and send an email to the school explaining the dismissed charge, that way they don't learn about it via background check.

 

[tcufrof824]

I was charged with "possession of alcohol under the age of 21" in the spring before the application opened. The charges were dismissed via a deferred prosecution agreement before I submitted, but I disclosed it on AADSAS because it still shows up on my background check. I was asked about it at every interview, and only one school seemed to really be concerned about it. Most of my interviewers just let me explain what happened and what I learned. I'm not sure if they'll look at shoplifting differently than drinking underage, but I agree with being proactive and sending an email before they get the background check.

 

[Cello]

Tricky, because you were charged, though not convicted in the traditional sense of the term. The problem though is exactly what Feralis says above; by agreeing to a pre-trial diversion program you are tacitly pleading guilty to the crime.

I am surprised that there is no process for expungement in your state. Or, are you saying that they will not expunge this particular charge from your record?

With something like this, it's just best to talk to a lawyer. They can answer the question "do I need to say yes I was convicted if I plead in abeyance to such and such crime?"

I'm almost certain that you didn't break any rules though, and I don't think schools are all that surprised to see charges accompanying incoming students considering how litigious our society has become (a full 38% of Caucasian males and 49% of black males are arrested by 23).

In any case, I hope that you learned your lesson. The schools will be hoping so too.

 

[Qwer12345]

So what happened? Because I'm on the same boat and would really like some guidance on this!!