Criminal Record Question

[redcap]

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Hey,

Last year I was arrested for possession of CDS and possession of paraphernalia (on school grounds). Here are the specifics of the outcome: All the charges were dismissed, I was exculpated of any crimes, and everything was expunged.

So, now my question is: how will this affect me getting into medical school? and will I have any trouble getting my medical license?

Any input is much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Charles English]

im sorry, i couldn't resist. seriously though, if it is expunged then you should be fine.

 

[Mattabet]

If it's expunged, it's not part of your record and you don't need to report it. That's kinda how 'expunged' works.

So, I'm not sure how much trouble you'll have, but the troubles you will have won't be because of your paraphernalia incident.

PS - 'paraphernalia' is one of the hardest words to spell, ever.

 

[honker]

You will need to consult an attorney to see what will be available to med schools if they choose to do a CBC on you. I have read that even expunged charges leave a trail that can be detected, although the record will indicate that nothing came of the accusation.
In any event, if you are dabbling in recreational drug use, you should consider your career choices carefully. If you get caught abusing drugs (including alcohol), your livelihood will be ruined if you are a physician. End of lecture.

 

[LizzyM]

If the charges were dismissed, you are off the hook, it is as if you were never accused. Expunged means that a record of a plea or conviction is erased. In the OP's case, there was no plea or conviction as it never got that far.

whew!

Now go and sin no more. Seriously, don't get mixed up with anything like that.

 

[kia ora]

You will need to consult an attorney to see what will be available to med schools if they choose to do a CBC on you. I have read that even expunged charges leave a trail that can be detected, although the record will indicate that nothing came of the accusation.
In any event, if you are dabbling in recreational drug use, you should consider your career choices carefully. If you get caught abusing drugs (including alcohol), your livelihood will be ruined if you are a physician. End of lecture.

this is all good advice.

the rules differ among states, but often a conviction cannot be "expunged" until a certain number of years have passed after the completion of all conditions of sentence. since you were not convicted (and since I don't know in which state your arrest/charges occurred), I'm not sure that "expunged" is the proper term of art - I think what you're saying is that no record of you having been arrested and charged would show up on your "record." I'd not be so sure about this. I know in my state (and for the record I know this from work experience, not from being arrested), the records of the state department that issues drivers' licenses will show records of criminal charges that were filed and subsequently dismissed. you should have a lawyer in your jurisdiction look into this for you. also, put down the pipe or whatever it was and stay out of trouble if you want to be a doctor...or anything other than a drug addict, really. good luck

 

[futureboy]

Hey,

Last year I was arrested for possession of CDS and possession of paraphernalia (on school grounds). Here are the specifics of the outcome: All the charges were dismissed, I was exculpated of any crimes, and everything was expunged.

So, now my question is: how will this affect me getting into medical school? and will I have any trouble getting my medical license?

Any input is much appreciated.

Thanks

From your post, I suspect that there is more to the story. Were the charges dropped completely, or did you enter some sort of first offender program where you plead to the offense, do some some of probation/community service, and the conviction/case is expunged? Did you pay a fine or court costs? I'm a lawyer, and I've had clients who honestly thought a previous criminal charge was dropped or dismissed, but it turned out that they actually had a conviction, but only got a small fine and non-reporting probation.

Your duty to disclose this will depend on how the question is asked. In my state, law license applicants were required to disclose everything, even if expunged. When in doubt, disclose. An isolated drug possession case is probably not going to keep you out of medical school or from being licensed, assuming that you've stopped using. However, failing to disclose it when you should have may cost you an acceptance or a license.

I agree with the above poster who suggested that you talk to an attorney.

 

[futureboy]

PS - 'paraphernalia' is one of the hardest words to spell, ever.

Agreed.

 

[redcap]

.Here is exactly what happened...i was charged with two things (possession and paraphernalia - on school grounds if that matters). I went to court, was exculpated of the crime and had both charges dismissed (not downgraded to a misdemeanor, they were completely dismissed) . My lawyer then filed an expungement., ..so that any record of the mater can be removed/sealed. All this occurred in NJ. I did not participate in any diversionary program, or do any type of probation...

..So, what kind of impact will this have on me getting accepted into medical school? and what kind of impact will this have on my getting my medical license?
..

 

[LizzyM]

As best I recall, the AMCAS prompt does not ask a question that would require you to divulge this information.

Some schools do ask a question that would require you to divulge this information under penalty of being accused of falsifying an admissions application. (They ask "have you ever been arrested?"). Some schools won't ask in such a way that you must disclose.

Many (maybe every) school is doing a criminal background check on every incoming student. (You might want to pull one on yourself & see what turns up.) If something were to come up that was at odds with your application, you'd have some explaining to do and the school could choose to recind the offer of admission, or not. If it were not at odds with what was on your application, because the question asked was answered correctly, then you shouldn't have an issue. In either case, a school could decide that the matter was long enough ago, and perhaps a false charge, and that you would still be an acceptable candidate.

So, some schools will not know (they don't ask) and may never know (the CBC shows nothing) and this situation of yours won't matter.

Some schools may ask and decide that they won't take a chance on anyone who has been arrested for drugs. Their decision... you have to live with it. Others may ask and decide that you are a good candidate nevertheless and they'll take a chance on you.

Good luck.

 

[canepa]

along these lines...

i am a non-trad and was arrested 10 yrs. ago for a fake ID. it was expunged, but made it into another schools daily newspaper, which thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, now has all of it's back issues posted.
i know this is ridiculous...but would a school ever take the time to "Google" someone. It comes up every time someone has googled me. I was thinking of writing to the editor of the paper and asking her if she would remove it. But I can just see her next story "Med School Applicant requests 1st Amendment Rights to Be Comprimised".

Also, if I have had many CBC's done by employers, including hospitals, and they have mentioned nothing. Is it safe to assume that nothing comes up...?

 

[Ohio SMP]

along these lines...

i am a non-trad and was arrested 10 yrs. ago for a fake ID. it was expunged, but made it into another schools daily newspaper, which thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, now has all of it's back issues posted.
i know this is ridiculous...but would a school ever take the time to "Google" someone. It comes up every time someone has googled me. I was thinking of writing to the editor of the paper and asking her if she would remove it. But I can just see her next story "Med School Applicant requests 1st Amendment Rights to Be Comprimised".

Also, if I have had many CBC's done by employers, including hospitals, and they have mentioned nothing. Is it safe to assume that nothing comes up...?

I don't think you have to mention something like this as long as its expunged. Lots of people get fake IDs in college to go to clubs. Don't write a letter to the editor because that will get their attention and the last thing you want to do is to draw anyone's attention to something like this. Besides that, how common is your name? If it's John Smith, no worries.

 

[OttawaPremed88]

along these lines...

i am a non-trad and was arrested 10 yrs. ago for a fake ID. it was expunged, but made it into another schools daily newspaper, which thanks to the wonderful world of the internet, now has all of it's back issues posted.
i know this is ridiculous...but would a school ever take the time to "Google" someone. It comes up every time someone has googled me. I was thinking of writing to the editor of the paper and asking her if she would remove it. But I can just see her next story "Med School Applicant requests 1st Amendment Rights to Be Comprimised".

Also, if I have had many CBC's done by employers, including hospitals, and they have mentioned nothing. Is it safe to assume that nothing comes up...?

News must have been slow back then.

I don't think many schools will choose to google your name, they have enough records to look at. Also, as long as you have a common name, and no picture was provided in the article, how can they even figure out it was you if they did? If anyone asks, explain the situation, and explain the charges were dismissed...and for gosh sakes, it was a fake ID, it wasn't drugs or anything of the sort.

 

[Hoju]

I think the CBC's for licensing can see even expunged arrests. You may want to contact the State Board of Medical Examiners for any states in which you intend to practice. Usually they overlook small or isolated crimes, but I am not sure about drug related. For one thing, if they ask you about arrests and you deny it, then you are probably screwed.

 

[LizzyM]

For the love of Pete! (my grandmother used to say that, I have no idea what it means) No one cares if you got arrested for a fake ID. The Bush girls did when their daddy was President. (God help us if the Obama girls go out drinking while their daddy is in the White House.) Except at some ultra-conservative school (are those Seventh Day Adventists against drink as well as meat?), no one ought to care enough to say that they wouldn't want you on campus with that wart on your recordl.