Just like the title says guys.

My question is that, I am an aspiring teacher, currently in my junior year of college about to start taking all of the field experience (working with children) courses. All of these courses require a clear criminal history in order to participate (for obvious reasons), and of course when I graduate, any school system I apply for will do a thorough background check as well. The deal is, I was arrested about a year ago for shoplifting (long story, was with the wrong person at the wrong time) and because it was over $300 in value (like $310 or something to be exact) it was a felony in the state of Georgia. Now I was given the opportunity to complete a pre-trial diversion program, which I did and the case was thus dismissed. I have all paperwork to prove it was dismissed.

When the college I'm at now, and a future employer (a school system) goes to run a background check on me, will anything show up since it has been dismissed? I'm not sure if you have any experience with teachers, but how do you think that would affect my ability to work as a teacher?

I'm a little clueless as to how a dismissal works and how it will appear on my record to other people... and over all, just extremely nervous about one stupid incident ruining my career goals. Thanks in advance - I appreciate all your help.

ScottGem

I think school boards are a little deeper than that. I really doubt if a single petty theft that was the result of a youthful indescretion would disqualify you for any teaching job. Teachers are not that plentiful these days that they can throw away candidates for that. It would have to be more serious IMHO. If it was a DUI or a hint of molestation, yes that would do it, but a single shoplifiting charge??

But, again I strongly suggest going to someiong in the scholl admin or Ed dept and talk tpo them. They will have a better handle on this.

Fr_Chuck

Only convictions show up in the police background checks, which is normally the service used by school boards. Since this was a diversion dismissial the case will be shown as dismissed. So there is no official conviction, thus no official record.

The most you will find even on private investigations will be an arrest with a dismissial. alot of people get arrested, picked up and more and then dismissed, that is still no record

lennyd

Thanks again guys.

All that info is a big comfort.

youngandstupid11

i made the same mistake, and i really hope everything works out for you as well.

jellybaby

It depends on your State laws. In some states, non-violent felony like nonpayment of child support still allows you to teach.

Your felony was not expunged, but some people said that you did not have to report expunged felonies. That is not true. If you apply for a teaching position, health care worker, first responder, then you must reveal expunged convictions on your job application. It is another serious crime if you conceal the conviction when applying to those categories of jobs.

Your arrest record will show up on a background check if the background check includes an arrest record search. However, most pre-employment background checks do not look at arrest records, and schools only look at convictions.

Finally, you were not convicted at all. So your offense is of no consequence to your teaching job application, and you do not even have to reveal it.
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Doing a criminal records background check on job applicants is a must prior to hiring. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of cases of workplace violence and sexual harassment, and consequently, cases of negligent hiring. Fraud and theft by employees are also on the rise. Conducting a criminal records background check is necessary in order to protect your company and your employees from these situations.

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