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tryingcake · Aug 26, 2008, 08:25 AM

My son, 25, has three misdemeanor theft charges, all over 4 years old. He has done his time, served community service, paid fines, etc. He cannot get a decent job, not even at Burger King, which would be a great step up!

Because he has kept is nose clean for 4 years now, I have agreed to help him move forward. He is very book-smart (no, really, test scores prove it) and great at math. He has considered going into accounting. However, we have been told no one will hire him because of his record, even after going to school. OK, fair enough.

I don't want to pay for things that will in turn be a waste of money.

With the age of the internet and digital record keeping aside, does expunging really work? When a prospective employer sees "Sealed and Confidential" listed on a background check, is that an automatic rejection? I realize that's not legal, but does it happen anyway?

Is it worth paying to have the records expunged? There is no point in my paying for anything if it doesn't work in real life - regardless of the rules.

Thank you so much for your time.

Fr_Chuck · Aug 26, 2008, 08:36 AM

Ok sorry had theft charges and wants to go into accounting ( with peoples money right)?? Just one of the harder areas to move into with that type of record.

But yes, you can ( and it normally takes waiting 8 years after) get the official court and police record explunged, It will still show up for police to see and for national security record check.

But yes, with the billions of web sites and pages and ifno out there those public record. The employer will not see sealed, they will see nothing, if it is the government records, on private companies, often some sealed records can still show up.

tryingcake · Aug 26, 2008, 08:52 AM

Thanks! Yeah, I hate it but that's a fact we've faced awhile ago. But like I said, he can't get a job anywhere. He gets the interview (in any other field - not accounting), he tells them he has a record, they like him and hire him - then his record comes back and they can't hire him after all. It's an old broken story at this point and more than frustrating. I know people with records get work, including theft.

Thank you so much for the information. I'm going to go ahead to and help him do this and deal with the digital age issues as they happen.

Smoked · Aug 26, 2008, 09:10 AM

I have personally had my criminal record expunged and have never had an issue with getting a job. The only thing I know for a fact that might come up is the arrest record.

Fr_Chuck · Aug 26, 2008, 09:19 AM

He can also look in the possibility of starting his own business, many small business, independent sales and more.

tryingcake · Sep 2, 2008, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

He can also look in the possiblity of starting his own business, many small business, independent sales and more.

I keep getting email notices that I have new posts to this question. So I log on and then nothing is here. Can someone help me out with what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

excon · Sep 2, 2008, 07:22 AM

Hello trying:

You're not doing anything wrong. The software just knew that I was going to post and it let you know ahead of time.

If you're going to go that route, go a little further and apply for a pardon. If he meets the criteria for one, he probably meets it for the other. I would NOT hire some fly-by-night internet company, however. I WOULD hire a lawyer who I can speak with face to face.

Are there any guarantees BEFORE you spend the money?? Nahhh.

excon

tryingcake · Sep 2, 2008, 07:55 AM

Thanks, excon. I contacted a local attorney last week and left a mesasge but have not heard anything back. I really hate that! UGH! So I will call someone else today. This is absolutely a situation where I want a real person handling this, face-to-face. I understand there are no guaramntees. And I'm even totally expecting the digital age to be a hindrance. But if it didn't matter - ever - at all in the end, then I didn't want to waste my money.

excon · Sep 2, 2008, 08:02 AM

Hello again, trying:

An expungement only hides the crime. A pardon means that the crime NEVER happened. Therefore, he can answer NO, and have it be the truth, when asked if he's ever been convicted of a felony (or a crime).

Are there some websites that won't get the message?? Sure. So, it ain't going to be perfect... But, it'll be a LOT better than it is now.

excon