Should I update an adcom that a criminal record has been expunged?

[maslow12]

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I disclosed a minor misdemeanor that I was charged with and acquitted of to one medical school when they asked that I disclose incidents even if they have been dismissed... Since doing so my record has been expunged.

The two faculty I interviewed with didn't seem to like the fact that I had been charged with something...

Do you think I should write to the school and tell them the record has now been expunged? That I should include a copy of the court order? Call the office and explain its now expunged?

 

[njbmd]

I disclosed a minor misdemeanor that I was charged with and acquitted of to one medical school when they asked that I disclose incidents even if they have been dismissed... Since doing so my record has been expunged.

The two faculty I interviewed with didn't seem to like the fact that I had been charged with something...

Do you think I should write to the school and tell them the record has now been expunged? That I should include a copy of the court order? Call the office and explain its now expunged?

Since this was an issue during your interview and now it's a "non-issue", you bet your life, you should send your paper and update that school. This might make the difference between acceptance and non-acceptance. If you are acquitted, you are innocent so get that paperwork in as soon as you can. Kudos on your honesty in disclosing this but now, you don't have anything on your record and your application should reflect this.

 

[Compass]

Call them and tell them, ask them how they want the legal document sent. Not telling them doesn't help your case...

 

[flip26]

So they already knew you had been acquitted, right? And the only change is that you now have had the record expunged?

Well, as far as admissions to these schools is concerned, the damage has been done, and while the expunged record tidies up things for you, they have already judged you for being involved in something unsavory, even though you were acquitted, so I doubt if it will make a bit of difference.

Anything you send will be added to your file, so you should probably send official court documents. You might have your lawyer send it...just a thought.

 

[njbmd]

If a record is expunged and they have an official record, they can't use the offense to reject the applicant. It's like a jury being told to disregard information that can't be used in a trial. This may actually work in the applicant's favor in that they have to have a very strong case to reject him/her. The applicant would have a great case for appeal in the case of a rejection with a claim that they did take the expunged offense into consideration (whether or not they did or did not). Seems like a win-win situation as long as they have official notification that the applicant's record is clear.

 

[maslow12]

If a record is expunged and they have an official record, they can't use the offense to reject the applicant. It's like a jury being told to disregard information that can't be used in a trial. This may actually work in the applicant's favor in that they have to have a very strong case to reject him/her. The applicant would have a great case for appeal in the case of a rejection with a claim that they did take the expunged offense into consideration (whether or not they did or did not). Seems like a win-win situation as long as they have official notification that the applicant's record is clear.

Wow, this is great advice. Thanks much!

 

[flip26]

Wow, this is great advice. Thanks much!

Please clarify: were they aware of your acquittal before this expungement or not? My reading of your first post was that they knew you had been acquitted but were unhappy about it anyway, and I believe that is human nature.

Regardless, med schools do not have to give any reason for their decisions. I would be careful reading too much into what njbmd has written on this matter. Rejections are not subject to an appeals process, at least not a formal one where you get some sort of hearing.

Wasn't this problem disclosed on the AMCAS, not just to schools in secondaries? It would seem to me that you still have an issue with any other schools you applied to...send the info in, for sure, to the schools where you interviewed already, and probably to all the schools you sent a primary and secondary to, too. You may have already been damaged at schools that screened the secondary, or schools that have decided to not grant an interview.

Good luck.

 

[maslow12]

Please clarify: were they aware of your acquittal before this expungement or not? My reading of your first post was that they knew you had been acquitted but were unhappy about it anyway, and I believe that is human nature.

Regardless, med schools do not have to give any reason for their decisions. I would be careful reading too much into what njbmd has written on this matter. Rejections are not subject to an appeals process, at least not a formal one where you get some sort of hearing.

Wasn't this problem disclosed on the AMCAS, not just to schools in secondaries? It would seem to me that you still have an issue with any other schools you applied to...send the info in, for sure, to the schools where you interviewed already, and probably to all the schools you sent a primary and secondary to, too. You may have already been damaged at schools that screened the secondary, or schools that have decided to not grant an interview.

Good luck.

OK, this particular school was aware of the acquittal before it was expunged.

The AMCAS and secondary applications for every other school I applied to did not ask me to disclose charges I was not convicted of, so my chances have not been hurt anywhere else...