At Ask Me Help Desk you can ask questions in any topic and have them
answered for free by our experts. To ask questions or participate in
answering them you must register for a free account. By registering you
will be able to:
Get free answers from experts in any of our 300+
topics.
My question is for anyone to answer but I would like to direct this to excon since he might have more experience than most on this matter. Here is my situation: I am 38 years old. I have had run ins with the law on three separate occasions all of which lead to felony drug convictions. Two of them are Poss. w/intent to distribute cocaine in the state of Virginia. One of the convictions I received a probation term and the other I got a 5 year prison term and did 2-1/2 years on it. The third conviction is Poss. of Marijuana in Texas in which I received a six year prison term and is currently finishing my parole in the state of Texas. I will be done with parole in about 9 months. I have been keeping my nose clean ever since the last arrest in 1999. The two convictions in Virginia were in 89' and 93' just to give a time frame of these horrible events. Now with that all said here is my problem.
Since my release I have been going to school. I am roughly one year away from a Electrical engineering degree. In fact, I am at the top of my class with a 3.85 GPA. I have won several awards from the schools I have attended and could see a promising career in this field if it wasn't for the my past that seems to be weighing me down. After getting off parole and finishing school what would be my chances of getting my record sealed, expunged or pardoned if possible? If that is just too much to ask for what would be my chances of getting employment with a rap sheet like that in a field that doesn't like my kind of people? Is it possible? Anyone have a worse case scenario than mine please share.
You will have to apply to each court ( but be ready to explain each of the other, and honestly I would say that they will want to see about 10 years of education, jobs and staying straight before they would consider it.
Also they don't have it, it will be completely up to the judge to say yes or no.
And sadly even if explunged, they still do remain on the FBI and the National Security Data BASE, NCIC reports. They are just no longer public for employors to see.
So in any job or field that you would need a security clearance for, ( and in Engineering it will be alot of them esp now adays) even a explunged record is not an ereased record, there is no way to erase them from the national security data bases.
NORMAL???? Dude! You’re 38 with THREE felony drug convictions! Normal, ISN’T part of the package any more. But, a good life is still possible - even a great life. The first thing to do, is quit sniveling! You did what you did, now get on with it. Sounds like you’re doing some of that. Keep it up.
I wouldn’t spend my time or money trying to cover up my past. It probably wouldn’t work anyway.
Yes, it’s going to be harder for you to find a job. Ok. So, what’s an extra couple of months job hunting going to matter 20 years from now?
Although this may seem like a stretch to relate to . . .
Recovering alcoholics and drug addicts often face similar concerns when parts of their pasts show up. This can include legal records, medical records, and/or financial records.
I have seen firsthand some amazingly cool things occur when they are forthright about owning what they did and offer a sincere and reasonable explanation about what happened and why it's different now when discussing it with prospective employers, landlords, etc. It was enough for me to take my cue from them and do likewise with my past.
Honesty as the best policy will not guarantee a good outcome but it certainly helps get you the place you will most likely fit in.
And like Excon said, what's a few more interveiws?
And we all have our challenges too.
Your current acheivments really do outweigh your past. A good employer will see that. Besides, it is a proven fact that employers are changing their attitudes towards felons these days. The main thing is, you need to let go of your past and be who you are today-a bright person with a bright future. I have no doubt that you will do very well, so go get it! It's really all up to you.
Gives you an ATTABOY for being willing to look at yourself too!
Just in case you haven't been cruising around in different threads here, this is one where a whole bunch of us make some pretty good comments about how to leave something destructive in the past.
Well, you are sort of lucky? I guess, if you wanna call it that. You last arrest was more than 6 years ago? Since then, you've cleaned up your act, got your feet planted firmly in schooling, doing well in school, and plan to become an electrician or an electrical engineer? Im not too certain on automatic disqualifications for electrical engineer, but for the most part, felonies are NOT automatic disqualifiers when it comes to skilled trades. If you were to continue on to get your journeyman's card in the electrical field, you should have no problem joining a union in your area and then you'd be set for life. Look up the IBEW (International Bureau of Electrical Workers) ..acronym varies, in your area and stop by to see what it takes to joing the union. Usually be a small, non refundable fee (like $20-30 in money order) to take the entrance test. Then they'll decide if you're fit to go forward. With your degree, you should be miles ahead of the rest of the pack... just keep yourself clean and congratulations on turning your life around.
OH, concerning your expungement question. Most states are very similar when it comes to this, but they still have their own guidelines. But, for the most part, once you become a 2nd offender, any chance of having an expungement is thrown out the window. In Ohio, if you are twice convicted, your done for. You can apply for expungement in Ohio if you are a first time offender, you successfully complete PRC (post release control), you have no violations of the law post conviction, and you must wait 3 years after you're successfully terminated from PRC. Generally, if you've had more than one conviction.... even in the same court case, your chances of getting anything expunged are rare. It has happened though, and again, your state may be different. So, again, good luck to you and keep positive!
Linear Mode
