Expunged Felony, PsyD application

[n00b2009]

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8 years ago I was convicted of felony drug possession (5 pills of ecstasy). It was reduced to a misdemeanor, then "expunged" under penal code 1203.4. I am currently in the process of getting a "certificate of rehabilitation" which means that I cannot be denied licensing by the APA just b/c I at one time had a felony.

I have run background checks on myself, and it comes up as "felony XXXdate, reduced to misdeameanor XXXdate, conviction set aside, dismissed under 1203.4 XXXdate, and will hopefully soon say "certificate of rehabilitation granted XXX date". So, it's on there.

HAS ANYONE EVER HAD THIS RECORD AND BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A PSY D PROGRAM?

Obviously, I don't touch drugs now, barely drink, volunteer, have a good GPA, etc. My lawyer says I don't have to disclose it, but I am going to b/c I know to get into practicum and internships every single place will run a background check.

I disclosed it to the place I volunteer at now (with kids) and got a "criminal record exemption" and they let me volunteer weekly.

I am spending a lot of time, energy, money, etc. applying and I just would appreciate any advice or insight into this type of situation. I know this kind of thread is on MD forums, but they don't have the same types of internship situations.

Thanks.

 

[deleted176373]

8 years ago I was convicted of felony drug possession (5 pills of ecstasy). It was reduced to a misdemeanor, then "expunged" under penal code 1203.4. I am currently in the process of getting a "certificate of rehabilitation" which means that I cannot be denied licensing by the APA just b/c I at one time had a felony.

I have run background checks on myself, and it comes up as "felony XXXdate, reduced to misdeameanor XXXdate, conviction set aside, dismissed under 1203.4 XXXdate, and will hopefully soon say "certificate of rehabilitation granted XXX date". So, it's on there.

HAS ANYONE EVER HAD THIS RECORD AND BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A PSY D PROGRAM?

Obviously, I don't touch drugs now, barely drink, volunteer, have a good GPA, etc. My lawyer says I don't have to disclose it, but I am going to b/c I know to get into practicum and internships every single place will run a background check.

I disclosed it to the place I volunteer at now (with kids) and got a "criminal record exemption" and they let me volunteer weekly.

I am spending a lot of time, energy, money, etc. applying and I just would appreciate any advice or insight into this type of situation. I know this kind of thread is on MD forums, but they don't have the same types of internship situations.

Thanks.

If it were me, if asked, I would disclose. It's not that big of a deal. It's how you handle it, not how you hide it. Hiding it and getting found out can end your career. Disclosing that you made a mistake makes you human. Sure it will make it harder in some respects, but if you can find it, they can find it. Would you hire someone who hid things from you over someone who disclosed ahead of time and explained what happened?

If you can show that you handled the situation in a mature manner, it will go a lot farther than poorly hiding what happened. Especially if you can chalk it up to youthful indiscretion.

Mark

 

[Neuropsych2be]

I'd go ahead and disclose it if asked. If you can find the record online, so can someone else and it would look bad. Also be aware that many licensure boards might ask you disclose even those things that have been expunged. Others boards may only ask you if you have been convicted of a felony within a particular time frame. In Kentucky they ask you to disclose a felony conviction within the past 10 years. Technically, as a legal issue it would seem to be that it was reduced to a misdemeanor prior to being set aside and dismissed. The legal question I would ask a lawyer what that legal verbiage of "setting aside and dismissed" really means. If the conviction was really "set aside and dismissed" then my layman's understanding is that you don't have a conviction. But frankly this would probably not be regarded as a big deal.

20 years ago I was driving through rural South Carolina as an out of state driver (I lived in Florida) with an African American friend. I was stopped without probable cause and accused of a rather bizarre infraction in which the local sheriff's deputies accused me of tampering with my driver's license. I had to pay a $300 dollar cash "traffic bond" to them on the spot to avoid being arrested. Or so they said! I have done a background search on myself and found nothing shows up. However, I have always disclosed my one brush with the law to employers but there does not seem to be a record that I can find. I don't know if traffic infractions other than DUI stay on one's record. I suspect the whole thing was a bogus and corrupt way of illicitly squeezing money out of people by a corrupt local sheriff. I have always disclosed this and people have always rolled their eyes and said that these sorts of things can always happen in the rural south. It has never caused me problems. However, I will never set foot in South Carolina again!

 

[psych00]

I agree with the opinion that you should disclose if asked. It seems that this info will definitely come out in your background checks, as you have already said it does, so the info should come from you if it has been requested, otherwise it just will make you look shady. I don't know much about the law, but the point here is that admissions decisions are not determined by law. People are denied admission on much more arbitrary points, so I would not think that taking the legal route of withholding info could benefit you in the long run. I think the best you could do is really be prepared to explain how this mistake taught you something that would make you more desirable than someone who has not been through such an experience, or just as desirable at least. You would really do yourself a favor if you make sure you are prepared to face any potential questions about your integrity and understanding of ethics. Good luck

 

[hkusp]

You also need to be completely forthcoming if you are asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, not just about your recorded criminal history. Many places will ask in this manner as it is a way to get into the expunged activity. Keep in mind that many licensing boards will also ask this information with the understanding that you are to disclose any charges in which you were involved, regardless of conviction or expungement. I would hate for someone to get through the process and then get stuck because they now have to disclose expunged records as well.

Psychology is very very particular about that sort of thing. It can also come back if you ever decide to go into forensics or work for the government.

 

[melj]

Minor offenses fall off after 5 years and major car issues (like an at-fault wreck) fall off after ten. This is easily looked up, which you should have done before you started spewing your ignorant prejudice bull.

I have a friend who lives in the deep South OMG she's not a hillbilly, either (I'm visiting her now) and I can tell you that I haven't been pulled over yet. It happens in EVERY state, but it isn't commonplace.

I hope you use more common sense in your sessions. 🙄 Otherwise... let me know what state you live in so I know where to avoid.

I'd go ahead and disclose it if asked. If you can find the record online, so can someone else and it would look bad. Also be aware that many licensure boards might ask you disclose even those things that have been expunged. Others boards may only ask you if you have been convicted of a felony within a particular time frame. In Kentucky they ask you to disclose a felony conviction within the past 10 years. Technically, as a legal issue it would seem to be that it was reduced to a misdemeanor prior to being set aside and dismissed. The legal question I would ask a lawyer what that legal verbiage of "setting aside and dismissed" really means. If the conviction was really "set aside and dismissed" then my layman's understanding is that you don't have a conviction. But frankly this would probably not be regarded as a big deal.

20 years ago I was driving through rural South Carolina as an out of state driver (I lived in Florida) with an African American friend. I was stopped without probable cause and accused of a rather bizarre infraction in which the local sheriff's deputies accused me of tampering with my driver's license. I had to pay a $300 dollar cash "traffic bond" to them on the spot to avoid being arrested. Or so they said! I have done a background search on myself and found nothing shows up. However, I have always disclosed my one brush with the law to employers but there does not seem to be a record that I can find. I don't know if traffic infractions other than DUI stay on one's record. I suspect the whole thing was a bogus and corrupt way of illicitly squeezing money out of people by a corrupt local sheriff. I have always disclosed this and people have always rolled their eyes and said that these sorts of things can always happen in the rural south. It has never caused me problems. However, I will never set foot in South Carolina again!

 

[melj]

OH, BTW, my friend is African American, too. I needed to add that because it's cllearly important. 😉

I'd go ahead and disclose it if asked. If you can find the record online, so can someone else and it would look bad. Also be aware that many licensure boards might ask you disclose even those things that have been expunged. Others boards may only ask you if you have been convicted of a felony within a particular time frame. In Kentucky they ask you to disclose a felony conviction within the past 10 years. Technically, as a legal issue it would seem to be that it was reduced to a misdemeanor prior to being set aside and dismissed. The legal question I would ask a lawyer what that legal verbiage of "setting aside and dismissed" really means. If the conviction was really "set aside and dismissed" then my layman's understanding is that you don't have a conviction. But frankly this would probably not be regarded as a big deal.

20 years ago I was driving through rural South Carolina as an out of state driver (I lived in Florida) with an African American friend. I was stopped without probable cause and accused of a rather bizarre infraction in which the local sheriff's deputies accused me of tampering with my driver's license. I had to pay a $300 dollar cash "traffic bond" to them on the spot to avoid being arrested. Or so they said! I have done a background search on myself and found nothing shows up. However, I have always disclosed my one brush with the law to employers but there does not seem to be a record that I can find. I don't know if traffic infractions other than DUI stay on one's record. I suspect the whole thing was a bogus and corrupt way of illicitly squeezing money out of people by a corrupt local sheriff. I have always disclosed this and people have always rolled their eyes and said that these sorts of things can always happen in the rural south. It has never caused me problems. However, I will never set foot in South Carolina again!

 

[PsyDWannabe]

Minor offenses fall off after 5 years and major car issues (like an at-fault wreck) fall off after ten. This is easily looked up, which you should have done before you started spewing your ignorant prejudice bull.

I have a friend who lives in the deep South OMG she's not a hillbilly, either (I'm visiting her now) and I can tell you that I haven't been pulled over yet. It happens in EVERY state, but it isn't commonplace.

I hope you use more common sense in your sessions. 🙄 Otherwise... let me know what state you live in so I know where to avoid.

Relax melj, lol. 20 years ago in SC is very, very, different from today in SC. I would not be too surprised if neuro's incident did have something to do with prejudice. And I am African American (more African than American) since it sooooo obviously important

 

[Subitizer]

If anyone ever puts up roadblocks for you based on this, offer them a hefty bribe. 👍

 

[Psleepless]

i agree that you should admit it. we're human & we make mistakes, just as our future clients do.

perhaps you can turn this blemish on your record into a small positive by affirming to prospective supervisors that you have learned & suffered a lot from the experience/repercussions and have some valuable lessons to share with drug-involved clients and other clients engaging in physically or legally risky behavior.

hope you find a good program!

 

[wagwise]

Minor offenses fall off after 5 years and major car issues (like an at-fault wreck) fall off after ten. This is easily looked up, which you should have done before you started spewing your ignorant prejudice bull.

I have a friend who lives in the deep South OMG she's not a hillbilly, either (I'm visiting her now) and I can tell you that I haven't been pulled over yet. It happens in EVERY state, but it isn't commonplace.

I hope you use more common sense in your sessions. 🙄 Otherwise... let me know what state you live in so I know where to avoid.

whoa there melj. the comment ur freaking about was a professionally worded piece of comfort for another sdner. ur the one that used words like hillbilly, ignorant, prejudice, and called into question someone's therapy credentials.....

don't be naive, there is corruption everywhere. it is possible that a sheriff was corrupt (which was the only claim made!).

the only jerk here is you.

 

[Neuropsych2be]

whoa there melj. the comment ur freaking about was a professionally worded piece of comfort for another sdner. ur the one that used words like hillbilly, ignorant, prejudice, and called into question someone's therapy credentials.....

don't be naive, there is corruption everywhere. it is possible that a sheriff was corrupt (which was the only claim made!).

the only jerk here is you.

Well my original comments were intended to highlight corruption that exists. I am a proud southerner who live in rural Tennessee right now. But having lived throughout the region I have seen many examples of official misconduct andpeople being charged with crimes inappropriately because of age, gender, sexual orientation race etc... Its a sad fact of life.

 

[janet6460]

i am very nervous and unsure what to do. i have a ba in psych from 1995, and began grad work. i had to drop out of school in 1997 (was straight-A student) because i became very ill. eventually i was diagnosed with lupus, and the disease attacked my joints, lungs, and kidneys. i was pumped up with many drugs including pain meds. i became addicted to pain meds, and eventually acquired such a bad addiction, that I now have 2 felony convictions for possession of controlled substances.

i have served my sentences, gotten drug counseling, etc. i have been clean and stayed out of trouble for many years now (original arrest was from 2000, but convictions didn't happen until 2002).

i have also been able to put the lupus in remission (no thanks to doctors who pumped me with steroids, anti-malarials, and chemotherapy medications for years) through a special diet, acupuncture, exercise in water, and meditiation.

anyway, i have been attending an on-line university graduate program, and have a 3.87 gpa.

i want to get my psy. d so badly...

what are my chances of being able to get into a doctoral program with this criminal history?

-janet

 

[Student4Life0]

FYI, I just started my practicum and they did not run a background check. The only people in my program who had checks run on them were those working with children. Also, I do not believe a check is run when applying for internships or licensure. Can anybody else confirm this?

 

[zzzz2]

FYI, I just started my practicum and they did not run a background check. The only people in my program who had checks run on them were those working with children. Also, I do not believe a check is run when applying for internships or licensure. Can anybody else confirm this?

There is a professional conduct section on APPIC application that requires you to answer yes or no to whether you have been convicted of an illegal offense or a felony. You have to elaborate if you answer yes.

 

[psychgirl77]

I had to complete a criminal record check before I started my program.

 

[Student4Life0]

There is a professional conduct section on APPIC application that requires you to answer yes or no to whether you have been convicted of an illegal offense or a felony. You have to elaborate if you answer yes.

:/ Oh no...I have a DUI from a couple years back. However, I was told that after a year of completing the classes and having no other offenses, it would not be visible on my record. I am guessing that I still have to answer yes on the application?