previous trouble with the law

[litadoc]

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If someone was arrested and convicted of 2 felonies (burglary and marijuana) 13 years ago when that person was 18/19 years old, would this person still be able to gain admittance to dental school and become a licensed dentist?

These convictions were settled with probation, and she has kept her nose clean since. She has an excellent gpa (>3.6) in her junior undergrad year, and she is well liked business owner in her community.

Does the question of her past come up during the dental school application, or during the process to become licensed?

 

[groundhog]

The first thing that person should do is contact a lawyer about the feasability of obtaining a pardon from the Governor of the State in which she was convicted. Many states offer such a remedy after a person is able to demonstrate that he or she has indeed become a productive law abiding citizen over a continuous long period of time (usually around 7 years).

 

[litadoc]

Pardon is definitely a possibility, but it does not erase or expunge the record. It is simply a "forgiveness" and restoration of voting and gun rights.

She is a completely different person than she was during her teenage years.

I didn't see any questions on the AADSAS. I would imagine that it must be extremely rare for someone with this kind of past to rise above it and meet the requirements to be competative for placement in dental school, especially with high gpa and dat scores?

What exactly occurs after completing dental school? I know you have to pass the national boards I and II during school. And then the state or regional boards exams have to be passed. But if you pass the state/regional board exams, is there a committee you have to interview with to get your license?

 

[tinker bell]

I remember there was a question about crime committed in the past (in the back of the application). You have to explain it, whether the adcom buy it or not is another story

 

[tinker bell]

The state license requires that you are clean and not a convicted felony. I only know about CA. Make sure you check with the state that u plan to practice

 

[UBTom]

Here in New York State as well.. Persons with felony convictions on their record are banned by NYS law from becoming physicians or dentists.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I'm sure it is the same for every state. The major concern is that convicted felons would have full prescription rights.

 

[litadoc]

That's a real shame.

Consider that this person made mistakes when she was 18-19 years old. For the past 13 years, she has been upwardly mobile in terms of responsibilities and maturity.

She dedicates her life to changing her ways and helping people in every way she can. She studies her butt off and scores a 1520 on the SAT so that she can enter college. She works her butt off full time while attending school and earns a 3.67gpa while doing so. She is married with children that are straight A students.

Imagine she graduates college, makes a great enough impression on dental professionals that she works with to get letters of recommendations, studies hard to score well enough on the DAT to gain admittance into a highly competative dental school.

Then she dedicates night and day to studying and learning dentistry in school for the following 4 years. While doing so, she manages to pass the 2 national board exams. She finally graduates with good grades, and she takes and passes the state board exam where she wishes to practice.

With all of that intelligence, dedication, integrity, desire, and honor she has demonstrated while pursuing this goal, how significantly relevant is it that she was a lost soul that grew up in a bad environment as a teenager?

What does someone have to do to turn their lives around and go for their dreams once they finally realize what those dreams are?

It's truly sad.

 

[UBTom]

I would definitely go to an attorney and see if anything can be done to redress the situation. This sort of situation has undoubtedly happened before to many others.

 

[litadoc]

I have sent a letter to the Medical Quality Assurance folks at the department of health in florida.

I found some information here, <a href=http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0466/Sec028.HTM> (Statutes Link) </a> , in the 2003 Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 466, Section 028: The following acts constitute grounds for denial of license or disciplinary action.
(c) Being convicted or found guilty of or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction which relates to the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene. A plea of nolo contendere shall create a rebuttable presumption of guilt to the underlying criminal charges.

This mentions crimes related to the practice of dentistry only. Perhaps there is hope yet.

I also contacted the DEA and they informed me that "typically", unless there was information hidden from and missed by the State Board, but discovered by the DEA investigation, that if the State Board deemed me fit for licensure, they would more than likely grant DEA licensure.

She said, of course, this is not guaranteed. This is only based on the information I had given her and would be reviewed. But she felt that they would probably at least allow licensure with probationary terms for a period of time.

The big bear right now will be the department of health.

I will keep my hopes up.

I just pray I don't end up in a situation where I owe $200,000 in student loans and all I am able to do is flip burgers.

 

[Bickle]

I thought it was your friend who had these legal troubles? Regardless, if you (or your friend) really wants to be a dentist, explore all possible avenues to determine if you (or your friend) can get a license.

Personally, I have never smoked marijuana. However, the marijuana laws in North America are ******ed. Studies prove that tobacco is much worse for you, and yet that is perfectly legal.

 

[litadoc]

I'm sorry if I didn't seem so forthcoming.

The use of the pronoun, "her", was to paint a generic picture on a canvas.

Basically, I phrased it as, "Would someone be able to do this?", rather than, "Would I be able to do this?"

Considering this is a somewhat annonymous board, I didn't really recognized the distiction.

The past few days was really the first time I've ever written down the details of these events. I've never been in a situation that required disclosure. So I'm still quite shy and embarrassed, with good reason, about it.

 

[StarGirl]

just wondering if you were charged as an adult or a juvenile... I don't know anything bout the law...but aren't juvenile records sealed after you turn 18?
also, are you in dental school already? because I remember a section on the application that asked if you've ever committed a crime....
i hope things work out for you

 

[litadoc]

No, I am embarrassed to say, the incidents transpired when I was 18 and 19 years old.

There was a question on my undergraduate application that I answered yes to, with the understanding that I would be asked to disclose the details, but they accepted me without ever asking for any documentation. I was a transfer student from a private university with a 4.0 gpa at the time. I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not.

As far as dental school, I went through the AADSAS application pretty thoroughly and did not see any questions regarding previous convictions.

 

[litadoc]

I just got off the telephone with the Florida Dental Board.

They could not give me any guarantee because the people making the decisions today will most likely not be there when I am actually applying. She said I would have to disclose everything relevant to the incidents and it would be reviewed by the board. She mentioned that based on the details I emailed her, there doesn't seem to be anything that they haven't seen before. She said that given the time differential, offenses, the circumstances surrounding the offenses, and my achievements since those offenses, that she doesn't see a reason to flat out deny licensure. She also mentioned the possibility of a probationary period if they were on the fence about it.

She finalized the conversation by telling me that I should feel pretty confident about the outcome and encouraged me to continue working hard towards my goal.

I realize that this means absolutely nothing in terms of actually getting licenses after school, but it at least gives me enough confidence and drive to push forward.

This will be my last update on this issue for the time being. I am now going to concentrate on studying hard to get straight A's in the rest of my prerequisite courses and ace the DAT!

Thanks.

 

[Midoc]

It sounds like things are looking up for you, I'm happy to hear that. When applying for school I would recommend being very forthcoming with information (ie. volunteer even if they don't ask). And make sure you have very very solid letters of recommendation that attest to your moral character.

 

[litadoc]

You recommend bringing up the issue to the schools I'm applying to even if I'm not asked about it during the application process?

Would the question possibly come up when I'd have to take the National Board exams during school?

 

[Midoc]

I'm not sure if schools do background searches or not but it would look much better for you to bring it up and explain it first rather than them bring it up and then anything you say sounds like an excuse.

I don't think it would come up for the national boards (tests) but it might be an issue for the regional boards (clinical).

 

[DrRob]

I would not volunteer the information, but if asked I would not lie. This information is not asked for in any regional/national board exams - they are just tests by agencies. However, there is a question about past criminal record on your state licensure application. They will probably just have to review your case. You will probably get a license. If florida is the state your interested in then you have already done enough research and go ahead and apply.

 

[Blackstars]

Litadoc, check your pm box.