How do I deal with an old retail theft charge? I'm concerned about my future job prospects.
Posted By Lloyd Golburgh on Sep 1, 2009 5:09pm PDT
In 2003, I was arrested and charged with Retail Theft. I plead guilty and
received a withhold of adjudication. I want to go back to school or find a job,
but I'm afraid that maybe I will have a hard-time finding a job or getting back
to the school. This incident happened when I was single. Now I'm married,
and I have a different last name. Do the last names have something to do
with my criminal background? What do I need to say if they ask me if I
have criminal record? What kind of jobs are forbidden for me? Can I
do something with my criminal background? Can somebody advice me, please? I'm lost. I'm a permanent resident and soon an American
Citizen, but at that time I was working here under a work visa...for 5
months and I did not speak English at that time...Thanks
FloridaDUIPRO.com answered: So long as this is your only arrest and have never before taken
advantage of a record seal, you are eligible to seal this. It's
relatively inexpensive (about $500.00 to $750.00 in legal fees, $75.00
to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and $60.00 to the clerk
of court). If you want to skip the legal fee and do it yourself, you
can. Just track the language of the Florida Statute dealing with
Expungement/Seals and it's pretty easy to figure out. A record seal
allows you to legally say you have no criminal record. You should know,
though, that the government, law enforcement, the military, a college
or graduate school, or any career dealing with the elderly or children
will have access to your arrest despite the record seal. Also, because
of today's proliferation of computers, it is likely your arrest record
is already 'out there.'