I recently got a job and they said they're going to do a background check and I have a pending misdemeanor possession charge.. I live in VA and I have to pay 20 dollars for the check and was wondering if it would show up?

Hello d:

I doubt it. But, there are more than ONE kind of background check. There's good ones, and there's bad ones. If you're applying to be a president of a bank, they'll probably do a GOOD one on you, and find out... If, however, you're going to be flipping burgers, they'll use the cheap one.

excon

Well its at a home health agency in Richmond but all I do is answer phones and file papers

Did you say anything untruthful on your employment application? Normally the question would be "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?", rather than "Have you ever been charged with a crime".

So, if your employment application was accurate I don't suspect that it will be a problem.

I thought convicted and charged meant the same thing.. so I put no because I haven't been to court yet I'm just worried it would show up because it's a drug charge

Did it say convicted or charged? You were charged; you are not convicted.

Im pretty sure it said convicted

Then you answer "no." Of course, pretty sure is not 100% sure.

Not sure how it is in Va, but in NY a pending charge will show up on a background check, whether it be a fingerprint check or a court-records check

So even if Va works the same way as in NY, and you tell the truth, it still could be an issue

It depends on what entity is running the background check, what source is used, how thorough the check is.

The original question was "will it show up." Now it's moved to "what should I have said."

I say you always tell the truth. The background check reveals the truth, no harm, no foul. Lie and the truth comes out? Problems.

Here in Ohio it shows up. I had same thing happen. Pending may have as well been guilty I did not get the bread delivery job... and I was honest on the app.. I was not convicted of any thing... but marijuana means you have a problem.. so now I have gone to rehab and going to get charged with disorderly misconduct instead of possession of under 100 grams.