If you are 18 and have a misdemeanor is it possible to get a good job and have a good career?

Answer 1

A criminal background check will show your convictions. If it has been a long time since your arrest get with a local attorney and petition the court to expunge your records. This doesn't just seal them, but eliminates the fact it ever occurred. If you have been convicted of a DWI or theft it is likely this won't be granted because the severity of the crime and its punishments build off previous convictions. But still get with a good criminal defense attorney and ask in any case.

The person's story below below is a good example of what can occur at any job. I disagree with the employer in this case and if the person in question isn't in a transportation job, or it has been many years since their conviction.

On the "what has been sealed" question, if your records have been expunged the law allows you to answer questions posed about those arrests in the negative and willful disclosure from a public agency that is aware of the expungement is a crime in Texas. The only time I would ever recommend disclosing those incidents would be if you were applying for a law enforcement job, explaining the full details, and that the records have been expunged. (Keep in mind if you do disclose your arrest after expungement, this creates a new record of your arrest that is not necessarily subject to being expunged). Again, a good attorney can counsel you on the best course of action. These are just my personal ideas on what I would do in this case.

Answer

I am 53, and in this day and age jobs are getting stricter with whom companies hire. I had a job for 1 day, went to oriantation, was told that day thay my DUI was making me lose my job. I went to a new company in town for a hiring event. They stated if you have a misdemeanor, don't bother applying. Get your records sealed!!! This may help. alot of employers are also asking what you have had sealed also. Good Luck! The last example was for only a $10.00 per hour job.

Answer 2

As long as your NOT "convicted" of the crime, it will not show up in a criminal record check, and employers only ask if you have been "convicted" of any crimes. Most times when a person is charged with shoplifting, they normally don't get "convicted" of it. (SD)

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yes you can if you were charged with a felony then you would have a problem. most Job Applications ask only if you have committed a felony. you should not have a problem. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On job application they can only ask if you have been "convicted" of a crime, if you were charged but "not convicted" or if it was dropped to something lower then a misdemeanor, you can say you were NOT CONVICTED.

Now if you were caught shoplifting and went to court, and found guilty of a "misdemeanor shoplifting", then you would or should say YES to the question. Believe it or not, some employers may find your "new" honesty good, but I'm sure many would be scared you may steal from them too.

Your best bet is to go get a police records check on yourself to see how you need to answer that question.