http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024621052Oh my.
And they probably all have one.
<<<has no record; too bad for the primitives, as there's nothing to look up.
Gravitycollapse (5,388 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:01 PM
How bad is having an arrest record/misdemeanor conviction if I'm applying for a state job?
The charge and plea deal were for criminal speeding which is a misdemeanor. The city prosecutor did not offer any diversion program or traffic school and said I would lose if I fought it in court. This was less than 12 months ago.
elleng (45,774 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:05 PM
1. Not familiar with 'criminal speeding.'
and I suspect the effect would depend on job and potential employers. They probably have some discretion.
msanthrope (22,475 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:05 PM
:oink: :oink: 
2. I am an attorney, but not your attorney. So I will only offer a general suggestion--
Do not lie.
Look at the form, carefully. What does it ask?
Does it ask if you were arrested?
Convicted of a felony?
Charged?
Gravitycollapse (5,388 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:08 PM
4. I haven't applied yet. I'm worried about background checks.
msanthrope (22,475 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:09 PM
:oink: :oink:
5. This is why I suggest you do not lie. Were you arrested, given a ticket?
A little more detail?
Gravitycollapse (5,388 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:12 PM
8. I did not go through the normal motions of an arrest but I was arrested legally.
In other words, the police told me in the parking lot I was under arrest, read me my miranda rights, took a finger print, wrote me the ticket and let me go.
Hmmm.
<<<wonders what "arrested legally" means.
Is there such a thing as "arrested illegally"?
msanthrope (22,475 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:15 PM
:oink: :oink:
12. Okay--you were detained and given a citation? What information is being requested of you?
Gravitycollapse (5,388 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:21 PM
15. My question is not for a specific application. I just remembered my criminal history...
As I was searching for state jobs.
I was technically arrested but really only detained on the side of the road.
Hmmmm.
That's not something most of us usually have to remember, our criminal histories.
LittleBlue (5,225 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:12 PM
7. This
Never put something down on a piece of paper that could be construed as a lie. It's one thing to say a lie, it's another to have your lie in writing.
As she says, tell the truth but don't volunteer anything.
rug (56,488 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:06 PM
3. Usually not bad. But it depends on the job.
VScott (29 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:10 PM
6. If the job involves driving as part of the job
You would have a problem.. ie: "must have a clean driving record" in the job description.
Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
However, when there are 500+ applicants for the same position, there's no telling what they take into consideration.
Puzzledtraveller (3,920 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:12 PM
9. If you disclose it you should be fine.
I was 33 when I was hired on Louisville Metro Police Department and had a DUI 1st offense when I was 20. I was upfront with it from the very beginning. Severity of the conviction, the time between and how you have been since said conviction matters. With me, I was in the Air National Guard when the DUI took place. I was in school, stayed in school and finished, stayed out of trouble.
meanit (375 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:12 PM
10. Usually it's not automatically disqualifying
if you have a record. Just be candid and list the facts if they ask on the application. Trying to omit it or cover it up is what can sink you. Most background checks are done before a job offer is made.
stopbush (12,119 posts) Fri Mar 7, 2014, 02:09 AM
30. Correct. Being over 50 years old? Now,THAT is automatically disqualifying in today's job market
as is being unemployed for over 6 months.
Atman (27,219 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:13 PM
11. "Crimimal Speeding?"
How fast were you going???
AFAIK, these type of offenses aren't considered serious. Real felonies, serious bad stuff, that's what they look for. Hell, the HR director might have a misdemeanor on his/her record. They're looking for real bad guys. If your resume is otherwise okay, be up front and be strong.
^^^has a record of criminally speeding in at least three different states.
^^^suffers from "road rage."
<<<mellow, laid back, so doesn't suffer from "road rage."
Gravitycollapse (5,388 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:17 PM
13. Well, how fast I was actually going is a matter of debate.
I was definitely exceeding the speed limit but do not personally know exactly by how much. The officer measured my speed by pacing, which is never totally accurate. He told the court I was going 62 in a 40.
However, I had just exited a 45 mph zone by less than half a mile. It was very late at night and I was on my way home on my motorcycle after a long evening at work.
Aerows (22,232 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 11:13 PM
23. I got tagged
for going 66 in a 40 mph zone because there was an abrupt construction zone on the GNO bridge (Crescent City Connection, I guess it is called now).
It was like 5:30 am (I hadn't been drinking or anything like that). That was a hell of a ticket and they threatened to take my driver's license, but of course, after getting hit with a $500+ (this was two decades ago), and going to court it was resolved.
I guess it depends on where it happens. You would have had to have the braking skills of a NASCAR driver to avoid that speed trap. There were a bunch of people lined up to the side that were blowing in breathalyzers that got caught in the same place I did.
Anything over 25mph over the speed limit is considered reckless driving.
I went to court and it was dropped to just a ticket for 14mph over the speed limit.
cherokeeprogressive (17,363 posts) Thu Mar 6, 2014, 10:31 PM
16. Full disclosure. Not getting the job is LIGHT YEARS better than getting it and then getting fired.
I wish you all the best.
