Background check question!!

[whattodo00]

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I need some input about this situation: Our school has recently decided that all students are going to undergo background checks before the beginning of our third year (so sometime within the next few months).

I had a record from a few years ago (a citation summary, the lowest category) expunged. I did a background check on myself with the state police using SS# and it all came back clean. However, I think with this process they are going to be using fingerprints and I have no idea if despite the expungement if it will show up with fingerprints, etc.

At the same time, when applying to med school (i don't remember exactly) but i think they only asked about felonies (maybe misdmeanors). At this point, I'm nervous beyond belief and don't know what to do. If it does show up as expunged, whats the worst that can happen?

 

[njbmd]

I need some input about this situation: Our school has recently decided that all students are going to undergo background checks before the beginning of our third year (so sometime within the next few months).

I had a record from a few years ago (a citation summary, the lowest category) expunged. I did a background check on myself with the state police using SS# and it all came back clean. However, I think with this process they are going to be using fingerprints and I have no idea if despite the expungement if it will show up with fingerprints, etc.

At the same time, when applying to med school (i don't remember exactly) but i think they only asked about felonies (maybe misdmeanors). At this point, I'm nervous beyond belief and don't know what to do. If it does show up as expunged, whats the worst that can happen?

I don't think that you have much to worry about. Go through the background check and if anything comes up, answer all questionsthat are asked (volunteer nothing) and leave it at that. Likely, unless you are applying for a top secret government clearance, you won't have anything show up.

If you really think that you are going to have problems, then get legal counsel (so that you know your rights) but if I were in your position, I wouldn't even worry about this unless something happens.

 

[danzman]

I need some input about this situation: Our school has recently decided that all students are going to undergo background checks before the beginning of our third year (so sometime within the next few months).

I had a record from a few years ago (a citation summary, the lowest category) expunged. I did a background check on myself with the state police using SS# and it all came back clean. However, I think with this process they are going to be using fingerprints and I have no idea if despite the expungement if it will show up with fingerprints, etc.

At the same time, when applying to med school (i don't remember exactly) but i think they only asked about felonies (maybe misdmeanors). At this point, I'm nervous beyond belief and don't know what to do. If it does show up as expunged, whats the worst that can happen?

At my school they told us exactly what they were looking for; many offenses, drugs, violence towards people you are responsible for, or anything else that would prevent you from getting a license. A few people had DUI come up, they had to write a paper about the specifics. I wouldn't worry about it unless you killed someone or had a large drug habit that got you arrested.

 

[whattodo00]

That makes me feel a little better. I've been in a total state of panic all day and can't concentrate on anything🙁!!!!!!!! I've been reading all the threads on this board about people getting kicked out of school and I just feel nauseous.

They just completely threw this on us, no warning, this year. I have no idea (don't remember) what the AMCAS applications ask and i'm pretty sure the secondary only asked about felonies maybe misdameanors? Either way, it was expunged and I know for a fact that state police records are clean. I'm just afraid that they are going to look into the central databases that are kept and then find something?
It was for something really stupid, no violence, abuse, harm to people, drugs, etc...Also, can it get in the way of being accepted by the medical licensing committee or do you have to commit a felony or something serious for that?

 

[Habeed]

If it got "expunged", aren't you officially (if fictionally) clear of all past wrongdoing? Even if there is a way for such records to be found in a database that is available to non-governmental agencies, could they legally use it against you? I doubt it.

Same logic for a juvenile record. Even though there's likely a way that someone could find out you had one, the commercial companies who do background checks cannot report that information about you. Otherwise, you could sue (and this has happened many times before)

The exception to the rule is if you are applying for a military or law enforcement job. Then, as far as I know, they can ask you about just about anything. Heck, the FBI says it disqualifies you if you ever used Marijuana, even if you were never caught. (they expect you to tell the truth by threatening you with jail if you lie on the job application)

Oh, and I just saw that you are about to start third year : really don't sweat it. They are not going to kick you out. They might not let you in had you been honest and said you did something, but now they have invested all this money in you, they are not kicking you out. The only reason they might is if you had committed a serious crime.

 

[njbmd]

If it got "expunged", aren't you officially (if fictionally) clear of all past wrongdoing? Even if there is a way for such records to be found in a database that is available to non-governmental agencies, could they legally use it against you? I doubt it.

Same logic for a juvenile record. Even though there's likely a way that someone could find out you had one, the commercial companies who do background checks cannot report that information about you. Otherwise, you could sue (and this has happened many times before)

The exception to the rule is if you are applying for a military or law enforcement job. Then, as far as I know, they can ask you about just about anything. Heck, the FBI says it disqualifies you if you ever used Marijuana, even if you were never caught. (they expect you to tell the truth by threatening you with jail if you lie on the job application)

Oh, and I just saw that you are about to start third year : really don't sweat it. They are not going to kick you out. They might not let you in had you been honest and said you did something, but now they have invested all this money in you, they are not kicking you out. The only reason they might is if you had committed a serious crime.

Be careful with this. If a school didn't run a criminal background check and you had something (not something expunged) in your background that you failed to report if asked on any application documents, then you are subject to dismissal for failing to disclose. Your degree (after the fact) can become invalidated if something is discovered about you that you didn't previously disclose if asked. Do NOT believe for one second that once you get in, anything that you have previously not disclosed/lied about cannot come back and bite you big time. The amount of money "invested" is small compared to the liability of putting someone out who misrepresented themselves in the first place. You can take that to the bank.

The OP has an expunged item. This is likely not going to have much of an impact. If you had an item that was not disclosed previously when asked, meaning that you lied about something, then you can be dismissed at any point even have your degree invalidated. The OP is right to be concerned but expunged means expunged and non-disclosure won't be a problem. Major criminal acts are not subject to expungement.

The OP stated that his/her school didn't run a criminal background check. He/She ran one through the state police (the most common type that medical schools use) and it came back clean which likely means that the schools criminal background check is going to come back clean. Many hospitals and state licensing agencies run fingerprints when you apply/reapply for license to practice. These are run through multiple agencies. Just because you complete three years of medical school, doesn't mean that you are home free. Things can come back at any point in your career.

Rule number one: Don't lie if asked to disclose something at any point and if you have something expunged, make sure that it is not disclosable (a point for legal advice). The OP has done everything correctly at this point and likely has no worries. The problem would come if something appears (again low likelihood) and he/she was asked to disclose. At that point, legal counsel needs to be on board to be sure that his/her rights are not violated.

 

[whattodo00]

What type of background checks do med schools/hospitals, etc use? Is this the FBI central database check (because I know they have records of everything, even if expunged) or do they use the state database? Can they use the state database for students if everyone is from various states - in other words does it include all states or do they have to go to a central database?

I know for a fact that the state record is clear but beyond that I have no clue. Also, I have run checks on myself with SS# but NEVER with fingerprints (I have no clue if that is any different) and know that my school uses fingerprints. Do most med schools use fingerprints and do people know where they check the fingerprints against?

Again, my school never ran a background check and if memory serves me correct AMCAS only asks about felonies/misd??

 

[whattodo00]

According to the school website, they look for felonies and anything that would stop licensure which is like drugs, felonies, etc. Nothing even about misdemeanors. Also, on AMCAS, they only asked about felonies and didn't do BC at the time of my application.

I just wish I knew what records the schools check against -like is it a state record or what?

 

[FutureInternist]

If you are doing a rotation at an air force base etc then the check is a little more extensive than the one for hospitals.

 

[ih8biochem]

We do rotations at the VA (Federal gov) at our school so all of us had to go through the entire fingerprinting, actual calls to ALL your references, etc. beginning our third year. One of my classmates had something show up that he wasn't up front about and I heard he was expelled. I bumped into him this year as a 4th year and he was a 3rd year, so he must've only been held back for a year or won some kind of appeal. Again, I'm not clear of the details and I didn't bother to ask. I just wanted to let you know that these things do happen. Only you know that when they originally asked for you to divulge your criminal record, you truly forgot or if you chose not to tell them barring some kind of technicality like expungement. If so, and you thought that this would affect your chances of getting in, well, then you got in under false pretenses and yes, I would be worried. I'd be totally up front right now if I were you. I've interviewed kids with minor stuff on their record (possession of alcohol as a minor, etc.) but they were up front and the admission committee was aware if it from the beginning. They still got the interview.
If I'm not mistaken, "expunged" was for to juvenile records so that kids can start with a clean slate when they turn 18.

 

[WellWornLad]

It was for something really stupid, no violence, abuse, harm to people, drugs, etc...Also, can it get in the way of being accepted by the medical licensing committee or do you have to commit a felony or something serious for that?

Without knowing what you did, it's really hard to say. You will almost certainly have to address it, which is never fun. If you look at the fine print for the licensing board in your state, you'll probably see language such as this:

Applicants, who have ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been cited, arrested, charged, convicted, or pled nolo contendere to any violation of any state or federal statute should be prepared to address the matter with the board. This includes matters that have been expunged or been subject to a diversionary program.

A more thorough explanation: http://www.medbd.ca.gov/convictions.html

 

[COMBAT MEDIC172]

What exactly did you school ask for on the application. Some ask for expunged records. The vast majority of schools including schools participating in the AMCAS CBC, and every DO school I have looked at specifically states that you do not need to include expunged or juvenile records.

 

[COMBAT MEDIC172]

I also think that the people that end up expelled had something other than a minor charge on their record. That is just my opinion. I think that you have nothing to worry about. You also have civil rights. If something were to come up that was previously expunged you would have 10 days to review it before they forward it on to schools. In those 10 days you can provide proof of the expunged record. The company will then uphold the court order in regulations with your state laws.

 

[Green Chimneys]

It doesn't matter if it was expunged or not. It was just a summary offense, and thus you were not asked to divulge it on your AMCAS. Whether or not it shows up in your background check, it will not prevent you from getting your license and you never lied about it so you should not be worried. Your school has bigger fish to fry.

Just for the sake of humor, what did you get nailed for? I'm guessing drunken urination in an alley back in college.👍

 

[LaTortuga]

Howdy. I'm getting ready to enroll in medical school and my school recently sent out an e-mail regarding the required background check that will be conducted prior to matriculation and again prior to the third year/beginning clinical rotations. My school didn't require fingerprints, but they did ask that we use a preselected agency to run a complete background check using name, DOB, and SSN. These are the items that were searched:

FACIS level 1 individual
IDSearchPlus (Credit Search using TransUnion to verify addresses, aliases)
National criminal database
National Sex Offender Public Registry
State Patrol - WATCH

The school also asked me to fill out a three page document asking about convictions involving young children, disabled patients or the elderly and financial exploitation of vulnerable populations.

Good luck to you. I hope everything pans out. 🙂

 

[MassTransport]

I think the biggest problem you'll face is if they asked for any expunged records when you were applying and you said no. AMCAS only started asking about misdemeanors two-three years ago, and the question specifically said to exclude any crimes which were expunged. If you didn't actively lie anywhere, then you'll be fine.

Having a nonviolent, low-level, expunged crime on your record should not present a problem for licensure, which is what I figure this change in policy is trying to catch.

 

[justdoit31]

I had my CBC run to start school next fall and it came up that someone else was registered with my SSN- albeit the section of the report said something about not being totally accurate and it was more as a tool to check for an alias... I am going to contact the social security office about it but since all the other areas are clear (not so much as a traffic violation here!) I hope I don't have any problems from the school

 

[kdburton]

Heck, the FBI says it disqualifies you if you ever used Marijuana, even if you were never caught. (they expect you to tell the truth by threatening you with jail if you lie on the job application)

Actually the FBI expects that many people will have experimented with drugs during their lifetime. If you're applying as a special agent they just say that you cannot have smoked weed more than 15 times in your life. You cannot, however, have sold any drug for profit even one time or you're disqualified. And they do polygraph tests to back it up (even though the accuracy is debatable).

 

[whattodo00]

I think the biggest problem you'll face is if they asked for any expunged records when you were applying and you said no. AMCAS only started asking about misdemeanors two-three years ago, and the question specifically said to exclude any crimes which were expunged. If you didn't actively lie anywhere, then you'll be fine.

Having a nonviolent, low-level, expunged crime on your record should not present a problem for licensure, which is what I figure this change in policy is trying to catch.

When I applied a few years back, I believe (i could be wrong) AMCAS asked for convictions of a felony or misdemeanor..which this was not. So I correctly answered no. Does anyone remember if this is what they asked three years ago?

 

[whattodo00]

Thanks everyone for the replies so far.

My state police record is clear of anything. But they are also making us do a federal fingerprint check. The results will go directly to them and so I will have no time to intervene and explain that it was expunged before it gets to them. I have no idea if expunged records show up on those checks or not.

Anyway, they told us that if something does come up we will have to meet with admin and if it is nothing serious they will ignore it. I have no idea what "serious" means - this was nothing that involved harming another person, etc. I just hope to them nothing serious means a speeding ticket. If they do think it is serious, they will send it to a special committee..I'm so stressed out about this I can't think. I really hope everything pans out well...

 

[MassTransport]

What? Was your 'crime' a moving violation?

 

[WellWornLad]

I'm so stressed out about this I can't think. I really hope everything pans out well...

There's no reason to get stressed out at this stage. Especially if it was expunged and no one got hurt. If it has to do with drugs, that is more serious, but he school is going to err on the side of letting you in. If you can't get past them, you'll probably have a hell of a time getting licensed - better to find out now than after you graduate.

 

[whattodo00]

Its a long story but they bascially thought I took something from a store..I didn't contact a lawyer until after the period when the case was opened and then had to go for an expungement as my next best option.