So I am in the process of adopting my step-son and the probation officer did a criminal background check on me. She told me that I have something dating back to 1998 when I was about 16. I have no clue what it is I have never been in trouble and even have a government job now. This is the first I have been told of such a thing. What Can I Do? Can it be removed? Like I said I have never been in trouble (ie. Arrested, jailed, Probation etc.) Please help I am so confused. I do no thave money to hire an attorney and I think if I never did anything they need to remove it. Am I right? I am in Southern California if that helps (Not LA)

Hello D:

Is that "something" blocking your adoption? If not, who cares?

excon

She said that it looks bad she didn't say anything about not going through but she has to write her report still. I was thinking the same but I may want to get into IT and if I go for a different job can it hinder me (like work for the sheriff IT)

Did she say what it was for? Can you ask a parent or older sibling what this could have been?

Hello again, D:

I'm sorry. I didn't read the post correctly. I assumed it was the adoption people who ran the background check... Now, as I re-read your post, I find it was a probation officer...

Please explain a little further...

excon

In my county the Probation Department does the adoption background check and In home visits even for a step-child.

I do not remember the exact penal code but I think it was for molestation... But I have never been in trouble for or even talked to about. Nor even done Err it looks bad and yet I have done nothing

Oh and My dad has since died and my mom wouldn't know. And I am the oldest

Hello again, D:

Ok, then ask here exactly WHAT it was.. Is she keeping it secret?? I certainly wouldn't let her write a report WITHOUT your input or ability to challenge what's in there...

excon

She doesn't see any convictions but she see's it See post below for reason

Hello again, D:

Please don't use the comment on this post feature.. Use the Answer this question button.

excon

Aunts, uncles, cousins? A buddy from your teen years? Were you with a bunch of kids who were drinking underage or TPing someone's house? (Now I'm dying of curiosity.)

Nope Nope Nope... I am a goody Goody. I never drank, smoked, hell I don't even do that now... Never went to a party I had a normal life (I was a good Kid) I would love to know too...

Why didn't the PO tell you what it was for?

So I have found out what it was for... Well at least who and why they put it there... My dads Ex Girlfriend was really mad at me for moving back to my moms. Talked to the probation officer and she says it is coming up in my adult background yet it was while I was a child no one has a way remove it. Since I was never convicted it should be gone yet it isn't. She told me if she didn't do the math it was really bad. Lucky she did so it shouldn't effect me yet know one knows how to remove it.

Often attorneys will offer a free phone or in-person consultation. Maybe that's worth a try, to figure out how to get this off your record? Maybe our Expert excon will know how and what it might cost.

So I have found out what it was for.... Well atleast who and why they put it there.... My dads Ex Girlfriend was really mad at me for moving back to my moms. ... yet know one knows how to remove it.Hello again, D;

You need some clarity... Family cannot put ANYTHING "there", and you need to find out where "THERE" is. Certainly, it's NOT a criminal record from the courts. It sounds like RUMOR and INNUENDO rather than a real background check...

You need to find out WHERE this information came from and the PO is the only one who knows it. I don't know WHY they're being so secretive about it. I wouldn't put up with it. I'd want to know EXACTLY who they're talking to and HOW they're doing this so called background check.

That's just ME. You may want to let things be...

excon

Ask her for a copy in writing, And I don't even know why they are doing this, for a step parent adoption, did you not have an attorney for the adoption

No attorney, Cost like $400 and yes even for a step parent adoption, once I get this report I have to get a date to go in-front of the judge.. Crazy work to adopt my stepson who I believe is just like my own.

Think the 400 dollar discount adoption is going to cost you, normally no there is little but court filings for a step parent adoption, unless there is some issue from the other bio parent.

But anyway, if you have a juv record, you were in court, you stood in front of a judge and was sentenced, So you would know.

Also Juv records are sealed even from Probation people, they would have had to get a court order to open it.

So I have a feeling something funny is going on.

Hello again, D

What the Padre and I are saying is that you are taking this adoption thing rather cavalierly.. Both he and I suspect that your background info, if presented the way you SAY it's going to be presented, might cause a problem with your adoption. '

It's a lot easier to get it done right the first time, rather than having to fix it later.

excon

This is the right way all money ways paid to the superior courts.. 00% legal and what your supposed to do.

I'm reading this and some things aren't making sense.

The title of this post was something along the lines of OMG Ihave something on my record but I didn't do nothing wrong. If this was me I would want to know exactly how this info was obtained, what exeactly is displaying, who was the accuser etc...

You don't seem to worried.

And I guess what we are saying, is that yes, this is one of the reasons that even some of us who are experts in the law, would not do something's without our own attorneys,

Adoption is one of them, often what is normal or may appear to be required is not really if a motion is merely filed.
Also Juv records are not available, I worked for the Feds and could pull up anyone's record or search records from my desk computer, could not see Juv records, and could not even go into a court and see them without a specific court order ( that is hard to get)
Next if you had a record, you would know, parents can not give you one, you would have had to go and be in court, you should remember that.
So did someone use your name or ID and have your record messed up.
Have you went to the local police and had a NCIC report ran of your available criminal record, A record at 16 if charged as an adult would show up.
Now the police *probation also* can see any arrest that was dropped also.

Just from normal and regular law, what you are saying just is not right.

Hello again, D:

I don't mean the wrong way as in illegal... Here's what I mean...

Some people buy a house WITHOUT a lawyer. Some people wouldn't THINK of buying a house WITHOUT a lawyer. Neither of those ways are wrong. However, one is fraught with danger and unknown perils. The other is safe. In my view, it's the RIGHT way to do it. That's what I meant.

The right way in YOUR case is to have done this adoption WITH a lawyer. Had you done so, you may have been able to thwart the BAD report, that the judge who is in charge of your adoption, is going to read. That's all I'm saying.

excon

I'm not to worried because the Probation Officer wasn't to worried, what I have after long talks with family who are in law enforcement are suggesting that since I am still within the same county where my dads ex filed a false report, the records may not be criminal but a local report too, since that report was made (which nothing came of it) it should have been removed awhile ago but something isn't set just right. I need to get it worked out but it looks like it isn't effecting me too much. I have not ever been in trouble so that is why it is confusing.