Comments on: Can I Get a Job with a Misdemeanor? http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/ Rebalance before it's too late Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:16:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Trung http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-103341 Trung Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:16:47 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-103341 Hi, I was in the same shoes with many people here. I got a great job offer as a senior in college then disaster struck. I got charged with aggravated assaults on police officer and resisting arrest, even though I did nothing wrong. A drunk guy tried to pick a fight with me on the subway and the cops somehow assumed I was the trouble maker and arrested me. I didn't know they were cops (not in uniform, did not display badge...) and struggled to stay on the train while they pushed me out. I later had to admit to a charge of simple assault as the prosecutor was siding with the cops. Afterwards, I went forward to my employer and confessed to them everything before starting my job. I was completely honest with them and told them every details of the story. Fortunately, they were very understanding and kept the job offer for me. I am writing this as an encouragement to everyone else. There is hope out there for all of us. We'd just have to be honest, and hope for understanding. I know I was definitely lucky to have such employer but people, please don't give up. don't let the misdemeanor ruin your life. Keep trying and I'm sure you'll find a job that appreciates you. Cheers. Hi, I was in the same shoes with many people here. I got a great job offer as a senior in college then disaster struck. I got charged with aggravated assaults on police officer and resisting arrest, even though I did nothing wrong. A drunk guy tried to pick a fight with me on the subway and the cops somehow assumed I was the trouble maker and arrested me. I didn’t know they were cops (not in uniform, did not display badge…) and struggled to stay on the train while they pushed me out. I later had to admit to a charge of simple assault as the prosecutor was siding with the cops.

Afterwards, I went forward to my employer and confessed to them everything before starting my job. I was completely honest with them and told them every details of the story. Fortunately, they were very understanding and kept the job offer for me.

I am writing this as an encouragement to everyone else. There is hope out there for all of us. We’d just have to be honest, and hope for understanding. I know I was definitely lucky to have such employer but people, please don’t give up. don’t let the misdemeanor ruin your life. Keep trying and I’m sure you’ll find a job that appreciates you.

Cheers.

]]> By: steveham http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-92676 steveham Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:37:47 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-92676 This is a topic that affects many people as can be seen by the posts right here. As one person on this thread put it, the best thing that anyone can do who is thrown into the world of "criminal" is to keep pushing on, persevere and don't give up! I echo that sentiment! This is a topic that affects many people as can be seen by the posts right here. As one person on this thread put it, the best thing that anyone can do who is thrown into the world of “criminal” is to keep pushing on, persevere and don’t give up! I echo that sentiment!

]]> By: Max http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-91535 Max Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:04:40 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-91535 Greetings. Two years ago I had a misdemeanor minor shoplifting charge and a huge lasp of sound judgement at a big box retail store. I was NOT arrested, but went to court and got an attorney. A deal was struck behind the scenes by my attorney, where I would be on probation for 1 year and have to take a 4 hour class (this described by the judge). After 1 year if I had nothing happen and was a good person the charge would get reduced to Trespassing (again described by judge). Being the innately good person that I am, I was released from supervised probation after just 4 months and nothing did happen in the following year and nothing to me has happened ever since then. That's how I plan to keep it. I am assuming my record would now say Trespassing as it should according to the presiding judge... but I have no way to check this. Apparently in VA, that type of sentence is very common for first time shoplifting offenders. I have since been applying for jobs. I have a college degree and am having a hard enough time finding work in this economy, let alone with something on my record. In the state of VA you cannot have a misdemeanor expunged from your record. It stinks. For the rest of my life I have to live with this on my record, and I know it is making it harder to get a job (one my my prospective employers told this to me). There are times when I get so upset that I wager what it would be like to go back to try shoplifting again. Personally, it's not worth it for me... not now or ever... but the state has punished me for life and inadvertently made it harder for me to get a good job and employment. I know people in the same boat who don't want to shoplift, but without finding a good job, have felt they had no choice but to go back to it. The system and "second" chance they got by the program has failed many of us... because it makes it harder to find a good job. For some that I know it means going back to bad behaviors. I know I won't make that decision again... but it stinks to have to go the rest of your life with something minor on your record. I accept the consequences of my actions though. That said.. here is my question. What does it look like on a background check for my prospective employers? Does it say "Shoplifting reduced to trespassing" or will it just say trespassing? I purchased a self background check from a company online a year and a few months after my court appearance to check...(as I was expecting it to just say trespassing) and there was nothing that even showed up on it! Just a time in the past where I went to court because of a speeding ticket. Nothing about trespassing or shoplifting. When applying for jobs, I've just decided to be honest and upfront about the situation saying I had a trespassing charge which was a reduced sentence that came with a divergent program which after a year should have had the original charge removed from record... but I really have no idea what a "professional" background check would say. The one I got myself from an online company didn't have a thing! Any insight would be great! It just seems the system is set up to punish you for life... it is no wonder some people turn back to old bad behaviors when it becomes so hard for them to move forward because the community as a whole doesn't judge them the way the courts want them to after they pay their price for the crime they commit. Greetings.

Two years ago I had a misdemeanor minor shoplifting charge and a huge lasp of sound judgement at a big box retail store. I was NOT arrested, but went to court and got an attorney. A deal was struck behind the scenes by my attorney, where I would be on probation for 1 year and have to take a 4 hour class (this described by the judge). After 1 year if I had nothing happen and was a good person the charge would get reduced to Trespassing (again described by judge). Being the innately good person that I am, I was released from supervised probation after just 4 months and nothing did happen in the following year and nothing to me has happened ever since then. That’s how I plan to keep it. I am assuming my record would now say Trespassing as it should according to the presiding judge… but I have no way to check this. Apparently in VA, that type of sentence is very common for first time shoplifting offenders.

I have since been applying for jobs. I have a college degree and am having a hard enough time finding work in this economy, let alone with something on my record. In the state of VA you cannot have a misdemeanor expunged from your record. It stinks. For the rest of my life I have to live with this on my record, and I know it is making it harder to get a job (one my my prospective employers told this to me).

There are times when I get so upset that I wager what it would be like to go back to try shoplifting again. Personally, it’s not worth it for me… not now or ever… but the state has punished me for life and inadvertently made it harder for me to get a good job and employment. I know people in the same boat who don’t want to shoplift, but without finding a good job, have felt they had no choice but to go back to it. The system and “second” chance they got by the program has failed many of us… because it makes it harder to find a good job. For some that I know it means going back to bad behaviors. I know I won’t make that decision again… but it stinks to have to go the rest of your life with something minor on your record. I accept the consequences of my actions though. That said.. here is my question.

What does it look like on a background check for my prospective employers? Does it say “Shoplifting reduced to trespassing” or will it just say trespassing? I purchased a self background check from a company online a year and a few months after my court appearance to check…(as I was expecting it to just say trespassing) and there was nothing that even showed up on it! Just a time in the past where I went to court because of a speeding ticket. Nothing about trespassing or shoplifting.

When applying for jobs, I’ve just decided to be honest and upfront about the situation saying I had a trespassing charge which was a reduced sentence that came with a divergent program which after a year should have had the original charge removed from record… but I really have no idea what a “professional” background check would say. The one I got myself from an online company didn’t have a thing!

Any insight would be great!

It just seems the system is set up to punish you for life… it is no wonder some people turn back to old bad behaviors when it becomes so hard for them to move forward because the community as a whole doesn’t judge them the way the courts want them to after they pay their price for the crime they commit.

]]> By: chardaya white http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-88472 chardaya white Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:44:46 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-88472 @Elaine, hello i just look at your story and im goin threw the samethings i would like to know did your son find a job!!!???? cause it has been very hard for me to do so?? if your dont mind writing me my email is chardaya14@hotmail.com thank you so much @Elaine, hello i just look at your story and im goin threw the samethings i would like to know did your son find a job!!!???? cause it has been very hard for me to do so?? if your dont mind writing me my email is chardaya14@hotmail.com thank you so much

]]> By: Gracie http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87980 Gracie Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:58:20 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87980 @Bec, I know how you feel. I got charged with DV. My ex was very controlling and manipulative. He made me quit my job and I was even more dependent on him. He had me in a head lock in our bed room when his friends were in the kitchen, because he said he didn't like how I was acting. I came out of the bedroom irate and hit him. Needless to say he called the police to get the DV charge on me because he had his friends there to witness me hit him, and not what had happened moments before in the bedroom. I guess I just felt confident attacking him back in front of other people. Well, learned my lesson there... when I got out of jail he held that over my head for the remainder of our relationship. I never once fought back after that, learned my lesson. He would hit me all the time, and tell me if I called the police I would be the one to go to jail because I now had a record. Of course I believed him and the abuse continued... by the grace of God a year later a neighbor called the police and they arrested him... with the help of a victim advocate a few weeks later I was finally able to gain the courage to leave and get a protective order. She wrote the judge a letter on my case getting it dismissed explaining to the judge that I was in fact the victim, just too scared to place the blame on him. The judge dismissed my DV charge, and I was able to get it expunged. Well, I am still dealing with the consequences of it, because these private background checking companies retain their files even if it has been expunged. So if a potential employer sees the charge, even if it says expunged, they will cast their judgments anyways... and try explaining a long story like that to an employer... no employer wants someone who has had a troubled past... even if they are the victim. I have tried to overcome everything... but it will haunt me forever. It is like my ex's way of forever taunting me. Plus side, he finally plead guilty to domestic violence charges last spring, after paying attorneys to get continuances for months. Did he follow the terms of his probation? NO! Has he spent a single day in jail thus far? NO! He is facing charges for violating the protective order Nov. 1st and facing probation violation charges Nov.1st. But so far he has bought his freedom... He is very powerful and continues to prove so... he makes 500k a year... I am now on food stamps and cannot find a job. He was very smart having me arrested for DV in the beginning, it kept me trapt, and I now will forever be trapped with no empathy from any employers. Life is truly unfair sometimes... and I am tired of hearing people say stay positive. @Bec, I know how you feel. I got charged with DV. My ex was very controlling and manipulative. He made me quit my job and I was even more dependent on him. He had me in a head lock in our bed room when his friends were in the kitchen, because he said he didn’t like how I was acting. I came out of the bedroom irate and hit him. Needless to say he called the police to get the DV charge on me because he had his friends there to witness me hit him, and not what had happened moments before in the bedroom. I guess I just felt confident attacking him back in front of other people. Well, learned my lesson there… when I got out of jail he held that over my head for the remainder of our relationship. I never once fought back after that, learned my lesson. He would hit me all the time, and tell me if I called the police I would be the one to go to jail because I now had a record. Of course I believed him and the abuse continued… by the grace of God a year later a neighbor called the police and they arrested him… with the help of a victim advocate a few weeks later I was finally able to gain the courage to leave and get a protective order. She wrote the judge a letter on my case getting it dismissed explaining to the judge that I was in fact the victim, just too scared to place the blame on him. The judge dismissed my DV charge, and I was able to get it expunged. Well, I am still dealing with the consequences of it, because these private background checking companies retain their files even if it has been expunged. So if a potential employer sees the charge, even if it says expunged, they will cast their judgments anyways… and try explaining a long story like that to an employer… no employer wants someone who has had a troubled past… even if they are the victim. I have tried to overcome everything… but it will haunt me forever. It is like my ex’s way of forever taunting me. Plus side, he finally plead guilty to domestic violence charges last spring, after paying attorneys to get continuances for months. Did he follow the terms of his probation? NO! Has he spent a single day in jail thus far? NO! He is facing charges for violating the protective order Nov. 1st and facing probation violation charges Nov.1st. But so far he has bought his freedom… He is very powerful and continues to prove so… he makes 500k a year… I am now on food stamps and cannot find a job. He was very smart having me arrested for DV in the beginning, it kept me trapt, and I now will forever be trapped with no empathy from any employers. Life is truly unfair sometimes… and I am tired of hearing people say stay positive.

]]> By: Gracie http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87978 Gracie Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:24:14 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87978 @Youngsville, I thought if you had a record expunged then no one could view it. Please explain how they would find out even if it was expunged? @Youngsville, I thought if you had a record expunged then no one could view it. Please explain how they would find out even if it was expunged?

]]> By: Gracie http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87975 Gracie Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:09:48 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87975 @C. Hudson, Couldn't have said it better myself! @C. Hudson, Couldn’t have said it better myself!

]]> By: Gracie http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87973 Gracie Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:54:31 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87973 @kris, Had he had this charge expunged? I also have a DUI in 2008 (unable to expunge), and a DV in 2009 (expunged). I am very worried about what comes back on my background check. I have heard from multiple bloggers that employers can find out about expunged records with these private companies that do background checking, because they have some sort of vast database system. @kris, Had he had this charge expunged? I also have a DUI in 2008 (unable to expunge), and a DV in 2009 (expunged). I am very worried about what comes back on my background check. I have heard from multiple bloggers that employers can find out about expunged records with these private companies that do background checking, because they have some sort of vast database system.

]]> By: Gracie http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87970 Gracie Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:32:58 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87970 @Jeff, Hope you are right! @Jeff, Hope you are right!

]]> By: Gracie http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87969 Gracie Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:30:53 +0000 http://www.myliferoi.com/2009/05/can-i-get-a-job-with-a-misdemeanor/#comment-87969 @Chad, Perhaps you cannot find a job due to your poor spelling and grammar. I am not trying to be rude. Are there any classes you could look into taking to work on these important fundamentals of English? @Chad, Perhaps you cannot find a job due to your poor spelling and grammar. I am not trying to be rude. Are there any classes you could look into taking to work on these important fundamentals of English?

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