Hello!
My name is Natalie.
I pleaded guilty for shoplifting of $32 three years ago. I was given a fine. Right now I am an A-student at university. And my major is acounting. But I am really hesitating if I have to study further because of my criminal record. I was consulting with some lawyers about this issue. But they were saying that it might not be a problem but still...
Please, tell me, if some of you have had the same experience. Please, share!

Thank you!

Hello, Natalie!

I agree with the attorneys. It might not be a problem. Shoplifting is not usually a felony. If any laws for where you were going to want to work as an accountant were to say that you couldn't work as an accountant because of some kind of criminal record, it would almost always be because it was a felony. Was your conviction a felony?

You have already gained legal advice from the appropriate people, and it would be good to trust what they say since they know the laws about what you are asking. Please rest your mind on the issue.

Hello N:

It would be my view that you'd have trouble being designated a CPA.

To be a CERTIFIED public account, one cannot have been guilty of an offense involving "moral turpitude". Moral turpitude is a legal concept, which refers to "conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty, or good morals".

However, work as a regular accountant wouldn't be a problem.

excon

Whether she can be a CPA, if that is what she is going for, may very well depend on the laws in the state where she wants to work. Another possibility, is that there might be some sort of waiver program so that she could be a CPA. However, there is a lot of information that we don't know about her circumstances and what she is actually going for as far as a degree and a job at this point that would be good to know before arriving at any other conclusions.

Hello, Clough!

Thanks a lot for your answer. My conviction was a misdemeanor. I was 19 years old when that happened. Since then I have never had any troubles with law.

I am really concerned about a background check. I know that all companies are doing it now. And should I answer that I have been convicted or no? I do not really want to become a CPA. I just want to work in a good accounting company.

Do you have any experience with the process of hiring?

Thank You~!

Hello, excon!

Thank you for your answer.

But any background check report will show my conviction (it was a misdemeanor). Should I write an explanation in my job application aboit my background?

Have you tried to have the record expunged if that is the right term. With legal help, you might be able to have the incident removed from any record. As for becoming a CPA, your school should be able to give you the address of the governing body in your state that would make that determination so you could find out for certain. The same thing happens for people who want to become teachers. If it was a local misdemeanor, it might not even appear on any state background checks, so I would have one of those done so you know for sure if it will show up. It will be worth the money to know.

Hello, oneguyinohio!

Thanks for your answer!

I have already talked to the lawyer about the expungement of records. But I can not do it because I pleaded guilty. I actually requested my informatioon from FBI and it showed that I do not have any arrest record. That really surprised me.

Do the same Criminal Background request for the state. The FBI only does federal cases as far as I know. You can get the form from a police department, and be fingerprinted...

Or on most campuses at an office such as one that would help new teachers apply for licensure.

Do the same Criminal Background request for the state. The FBI only does federal cases as far as I know. You can get the form from a police department, and be fingerprinted...

or on most campuses at an office such as one that would help new teachers apply for licensure.


You can never be absolutely sure what a background check will discover - I would not lie about it. Have you thought of contacting the Licensing Board (for CPAs) and asking the direct question - ?