juvenile misdemeanor

BU Medical Sciences
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
W

Whyisthis77

New Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
10
Reaction score
1
Members don't see this ad.
Hello SDN. When I was 13 or 14 I got in a fight with my mom and put a hole in a wall for which she called the police and I was arrested and attended court.

This was over 11 years ago and I don't really know what affects it will have on my application and if I even need to disclose it at this point.

Thanks for any advice or input on the topic.
 
I really doubt it will affect you that much. If I were you and it's possible in your state, I would expunge it because then it disappears and your record is sealed.
 
Whyisthis77 said:
Hello SDN. When I was 13 or 14 I got in a fight with my mom and put a hole in a wall for which she called the police and I was arrested and attended court.

This was over 11 years ago and I don't really know what affects it will have on my application and if I even need to disclose it at this point.

Thanks for any advice or input on the topic.
Click to expand...

Consult a lawyer, don't make the same mistake this guy did.
 
I think if it's before 18, they will clean your records, so it won't show in the background check.
anyway, don't worry, it doesn't sound like a no no thing (rape murder DUI ...etc)
 
xffan624 said:
Read the thread I linked to. This is not always the case and that poster learned the hard way.
Click to expand...
Ouch. I wish he updated the post to see what happened.
I'm not American and have never encountered the justice here or anywhere else but my man had his record sealed after 18 and I thought it was the case for everyone who didn't do anything super serious. Maybe you have to go through an application or something to get it done.
 
I have had background checks ran on me for work related endeavors and I passed those. I am unsure if I would still need to disclose this. It seems pretty arbitrary since that was almost half of my life ago and I haven't had anything like that since. That other person had 2 counts of battery so maybe it stayed on his record longer?
 
EliottReid said:
Ouch. I wish he updated the post to see what happened.
I'm not American and have never encountered the justice here or anywhere else but my man had his record sealed after 18 and I thought it was the case for everyone who didn't do anything super serious. Maybe you have to go through an application or something to get it done.
Click to expand...

He had his acceptance rescinded. The continuation of the story is in the reapplicant forum.
 
It seems he also had some stuff as an adult too. Although he didn't want to go into detail about it.
 
Whyisthis77 said:
Hello SDN. When I was 13 or 14 I got in a fight with my mom and put a hole in a wall for which she called the police and I was arrested and attended court.

This was over 11 years ago and I don't really know what affects it will have on my application and if I even need to disclose it at this point.

Thanks for any advice or input on the topic.
Click to expand...
1) Just be truthful and disclose it.

2)You may be at a slight disadvantage with the information provided, but it's still the responsible thing to do. Hiding it and having them find out will be an automatic deal breaker.

3) It was when you were a teenager. And as long as it's the only felony you committed, it's not that big of a deal.

4) You had a rough childhood. If your personal statement reflects how you've learned from your experience, this may also be used to your advantage.
 
Holmwood said:
1) Just be truthful and disclose it.

2)You may be at a slight disadvantage with the information provided, but it's still the responsible thing to do. Hiding it and having them find out will be an automatic deal breaker.

3) It was when you were a teenager. And as long as it's the only felony you committed, it's not that big of a deal.

4) You had a rough childhood. If your personal statement reflects how you've learned from your experience, this may also be used to your advantage.
Click to expand...

OP had a misdemeanor (still not clear if he was convicted or just charged). If it was a felony, that would likely be an automatic deal breaker.
 
xffan624 said:
OP had a misdemeanor (still not clear if he was convicted or just charged). If it was a felony, that would likely be an automatic deal breaker.
Click to expand...
I don't know the difference. He he. Thank you~
 
Yeah, misdemeanor. I don't even remember the specific details. I'm not sure if it was a conviction or what (I don't even think 14 year olds can be "convicted"), I had to do some community service and stuff I think. I don't remember what I was charged with, but I am pretty sure it was destruction of property.
 
I know that nothing has come up on any of the other background checks that have been performed on me. I have spoken to a lawyer before and they said nothing should come up. I am just not sure if medschools have a different way of checking or if they even care if I have an 11 year old misdemeanor.
 
It will show up on a background check, so don't take chances, mention it after the right prompt, own it and it will be ignored.

Whyisthis77 said:
Hello SDN. When I was 13 or 14 I got in a fight with my mom and put a hole in a wall for which she called the police and I was arrested and attended court.

This was over 11 years ago and I don't really know what affects it will have on my application and if I even need to disclose it at this point.

Thanks for any advice or input on the topic.
Click to expand...
 
Do I mention it only if they specifically ask in the secondaries? From what I have read it doesn't seem like I need to in the initial application since it occurred as a teenager. Is this the proper way to think about it?
 
Goro said:
It will show up on a background check, so don't take chances, mention it after the right prompt, own it and it will be ignored.
Click to expand...

Hello Goro, a question if you don't mind. How much should I own it? Should I discuss my issues as a kid and getting in trouble and how my pursuit to become a doctor has changed me for the better, or do I bring as little attention to it as possible and only bring up the negatives of my childhood as I am prompted for them?
 
Whyisthis77 said:
Do I mention it only if they specifically ask in the secondaries? From what I have read it doesn't seem like I need to in the initial application since it occurred as a teenager. Is this the proper way to think about it?
Click to expand...
Your juvenile misdemeanors typically are sealed (not totally removed) when you turn 18. That doesn't mean that the misdemeanor is protected from more thorough background checks, so you will have to include it just to stay on the safe side.

The only exception is if you are a California or Oregon resident, where AMCAS specifically says do not report juvenile misdemeanors that were "expunged" (sealed). If you are residents in either states, do NOT include it in AMCAS.
 
Own it as in just take responsibility for your actions and take blame others. This is much more of an issue for adults who get into trouble.

Hello Goro, a question if you don't mind. How much should I own it? Should I discuss my issues as a kid and getting in trouble and how my pursuit to become a doctor has changed me for the better, or do I bring as little attention to it as possible and only bring up the negatives of my childhood as I am prompted for them?


You're not a lawyer are you? If not, then don't jeopardize people's chances with your interpretations of the law.

Holmwood said:
Your juvenile misdemeanors typically are sealed (not totally removed) when you turn 18. That doesn't mean that the misdemeanor is protected from more thorough background checks, so you will have to include it just to stay on the safe side.

The only exception is if you are a California or Oregon resident, where AMCAS specifically says do not report juvenile misdemeanors that were "expunged" (sealed). If you are residents in either states, do NOT include it in AMCAS.
Click to expand...
 
xffan624 said:
Read the thread I linked to. This is not always the case and that poster learned the hard way.
Click to expand...

He also had the same issues after he turned 18, so I think the reason his acceptance was rescinded was because of the legal issues had once he became an adult.
 
gyngyn said:
I think it was non-disclosure...
Click to expand...

Wasn't it the non-disclosure of his adult record? I don't know; some details were kind of hard to follow in his thread.
 
nemo123 said:
Wasn't it the non-disclosure of his adult record? I don't know; some details were kind of hard to follow in his thread.
Click to expand...
Generally speaking, non-disclosure results in more bad outcomes than any offense, adult or juvenile. One has to be especially cognizant of the exact questions being asked in the primary and the secondary in order to avoid the worst outcomes.
 
Whyisthis77 said:
Hello SDN. When I was 13 or 14 I got in a fight with my mom and put a hole in a wall for which she called the police and I was arrested and attended court.

This was over 11 years ago and I don't really know what affects it will have on my application and if I even need to disclose it at this point.

Thanks for any advice or input on the topic.
Click to expand...

As mentioned, YMMV for secondary applications. But as far as the AMCAS:

AMCAS instruction manual (https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf) page 34.

"Misdemeanor
You must answer this question in the application: Have you ever been convicted of, or
pleaded guilty or no contest to, a Misdemeanor crime, excluding 1) any offense for which
you were adjudicated as a juvenile, 2) any convictions which have been expunged or
sealed by a court, or 3) any misdemeanor convictions for which any probation has been
completed and the case dismissed by the court (in states where applicable)?
Below you will find state-specific notifications that these states mandate for inclusion
alongside our question. These state-specific mandates are included here by regulatory
mandate and may repeat information included elsewhere in this document. "

This is assuming that you weren't tried as an adult. Also, be sure to read the rest of that section.
 
Last edited:
Hello again everyone. So this has just become a little more complicated. I didn't remember what I was charged with, so I went and got fingerprinted so I could get my juvenile/adult record. I waited a week and got a paper in the mail that says there is nothing on record. How do I approach this now? How do I tell them what I was charged with if I don't remember (over 10 years ago). If I had to guess it would be destruction of property. Do I even list it now? Maybe I wasn't charged with anything, or was given a deal that if I completed everything it would be off my record?

Thanks for any help.
 
EliottReid said:
I think if it's before 18, they will clean your records, so it won't show in the background check.
anyway, don't worry, it doesn't sound like a no no thing (rape murder DUI ...etc)
Click to expand...

How is rape and murder similar to a DUI? You know 3 beers and the cops pulling you over for going over the speed limit on the way home can = DUI, right? Not saying it doesn't show a lack of judgment, but generally you have to be evil to commit rape/murder.
 
Whyisthis77 said:
Hello SDN. When I was 13 or 14 I got in a fight with my mom and put a hole in a wall for which she called the police and I was arrested and attended court.

This was over 11 years ago and I don't really know what affects it will have on my application and if I even need to disclose it at this point.

Thanks for any advice or input on the topic.
Click to expand...
It might be automatically expunged from your record from when you turned 18 or it might be possible to expunge it now. If that's the case, you won't need to report it, but I would seriously be surprised if anyone held a punch to the wall at age 13 as a reason not to accept someone to their school.
 
It is absolute, unmitigated HORSECRAP that juvenile records show for med school applications.

Sealed should mean sealed.
 
The very wise gyngyn has pointed out that hospitals do background checks and "sealed" records (whether adult or juvenile) show up on them.

Because medical schools want you to be able to set foot in hospitals, they do background checks as well.

So don't rail against what should or shouldn't be, as opposed to what actually is.

The infraction OP got into is not going to affect his application status, but ignoring the "list any arrests, misdemeanors, felonies etc" prompt on a secondary will.

mehc012 said:
It is absolute, unmitigated HORSECRAP that juvenile records show for med school applications.

Sealed should mean sealed.
Click to expand...
 
Punching a wall as a 14 year old is not a big problem. Youth, stupidity, immaturity, hormones. You grew up.
What potentially IS a problem is non-disclosure.

So - Read the question carefully.
- If the question asks about charges and seems like it's fishing for any past trouble, then disclose.

-If the question is worded to explicitly exclude dismissed charges, juvenile charges, expunged records, etc., then you can omit if your situation fits the explicit exceptions. (But check with a lawyer to be sure exactly what your legal situation is.) This is way too important to guess on.

- If in doubt, disclose! State what and when, what you learned, what your legal resolution was, and that you are explaining in the interests of full disclosure.

If the questions and circumstances allow, I'd try to keep things off your Primary, and disclose on secondaries only.
 
Goro said:
The very wise gyngyn has pointed out that hospitals do background checks and "sealed" records (whether adult or juvenile) show up on them.

Because medical schools want you to be able to set foot in hospitals, they do background checks as well.

So don't rail against what should or shouldn't be, as opposed to what actually is.

The infraction OP got into is not going to affect his application status, but ignoring the "list any arrests, misdemeanors, felonies etc" prompt on a secondary will.
Click to expand...
I will always rail against things which should or shouldn't be. Sometimes I can't change them, sometimes I can, but I always want to think about them and have others do the same. And hey, maybe those other people will be the ones who CAN change something.

That the secondary asks that without excepting for juvenile offenses is completely inappropriate and ought to be changed. OP should not be in a position where he is required to disclose what should be a sealed record or face penalties.

Additionally, the background check should not be popping those things up, or calling them sealed is a joke.

I've got no skin in this particular game; I've got no infractions of any sort. That doesn't mean that I cannot or should not recognize the injustice of it.
 
Goro said:
The very wise gyngyn has pointed out that hospitals do background checks and "sealed" records (whether adult or juvenile) show up on them.

Because medical schools want you to be able to set foot in hospitals, they do background checks as well.

So don't rail against what should or shouldn't be, as opposed to what actually is.

The infraction OP got into is not going to affect his application status, but ignoring the "list any arrests, misdemeanors, felonies etc" prompt on a secondary will.
Click to expand...

Idk if you saw my previous message, but I retrieved my criminal history file. It says nothing was found. How do I disclose properly if I don't know the actual charge? Do I just say that I was arrested as a teenager and that I can't find/recall the charge? Maybe I could also give them a copy of the paper that says nothing was on record?
 
OP: note edits:

I suggest that you state, IF the prompt asks for it, that when you were 13 or 14 you got into a fight with your mom and put a hole in a wall for which she called the police and you were arrested and attended juvenile court. State whatever the penance was, what you learned, that you have led a clean life since, and the results of the background check you did.

Then start prepping for interviews!

Whyisthis77 said:
Idk if you saw my previous message, but I retrieved my criminal history file. It says nothing was found. How do I disclose properly if I don't know the actual charge? Do I just say that I was arrested as a teenager and that I can't find/recall the charge? Maybe I could also give them a copy of the paper that says nothing was on record?
Click to expand...
 
static brown said:
How is rape and murder similar to a DUI? You know 3 beers and the cops pulling you over for going over the speed limit on the way home can = DUI, right? Not saying it doesn't show a lack of judgment, but generally you have to be evil to commit rape/murder.
Click to expand...

Calm down, nobody said that they all fall within the same category of misdemeanors or that they were similar. You're reading too far into the post. He was just giving examples of misdemeanors that are invariably BAD to have on your record.
 
static brown said:
How is rape and murder similar to a DUI? You know 3 beers and the cops pulling you over for going over the speed limit on the way home can = DUI, right? Not saying it doesn't show a lack of judgment, but generally you have to be evil to commit rape/murder.
Click to expand...
How is rape similar to DUI? Why do you ask that? Did I mention that they were similar? No. But whether it's three beers or not, having that in your record is BAD!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
DUI/Misdemeanor - Advice
Replies
6
Views
1K
RangerBob
RangerBob
dinkykang
Traffic misdemeanor while on waitlist
Replies
1
Views
722
CBass2288
CBass2288
lsg-premed
Applying to med school with a misdemeanor DUI
Replies
4
Views
2K
Goro
Goro
D
  • Locked
Misdemeanor Wet/reckless Conviction
Replies
7
Views
2K
chilly_md
chilly_md
T
  • Question Question
Applying to med school with a misdemeanor arrest
Replies
19
Views
4K
Med Ed
Med Ed
Top