I live in Massachusetts.
When I was 15 I stole someone's credit card number and tried to buy a dvd online. Needless to say i was caught and now it's on my juvinile record. Credit card fraud! It sounds so bad I can barely say it out loud. It's my only flaw on my recocrd. Nothing else but this. No criminal record. My record is not sealed. I'm 20 and in college for criminal justice. Is all hope lost for getting a job in this field? Will government agencies look at this and not accept me? Should i just quit now? This has been bothering me for so long and I feel so hopeless. Can someone shed light on this? Can someone with the knoledge tell me if this will disqualify me from getting a job as a police officer (for example)?
Working in the criminal justice field is my dream and i want to follow my dream. I know it's credit card fraud but doesn't the fact that it's juvinile make any difference? I was 15 years old! Do I have a chance? With a BS from Northeastern??
Respectfully,
Mike
2007-12-26 05:36:59 · 14 answers · asked by mike L 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Well, it would seem that with attaining a Criminal Justice degree, you would have the resources to answer your own question.. if not the knowledge.
But regardless, sorry to hear that you made a bad decision in your youth. We are all guilty of some transgressions, but they are usually confined to that time. In MA, it seems that you cannot expunge a juvenile crime, but you can seal your record. But since you are seeking a position in law enforcement, they have access regardless of the seal.
Here is some info that may help:
Who is considered a juvenile?______________
In Massachusetts, a juvenile is anyone between the ages of 7 and 17.
Who has a juvenile record?
Anyone between the ages of 7 and 17 who has been accused of committing a crime in the State of Massachusetts, including crimes that violate the laws of the cities or towns of the State, and who has appeared in court and been formally charged with a crime will have a juvenile record.
Almost all children under the age of 17 who are charged with crimes are treated as juveniles, except when the crime is so serious that child is treated as an adult and tried in adult court.
The juvenile record states what crime the juvenile was charged with committing and what happened in the case.
Who has access to juvenile records?______________
Although juvenile records are not available to everyone, they can be read by police and other law enforcement agencies, social services agencies, probation departments, and courts.
A person's juvenile record can be taken into account by a judge in a later adult court case when a judge is setting the adult's bail or deciding on the length of his or her sentence.
Are juvenile records ever destroyed or erased?______________
No. Although many people think that juvenile records are destroyed after a person becomes an adult, juvenile records are not automatically "sealed" or "expunged" when a juvenile reaches the age of 17.
What does it mean to "seal" a juvenile record?______________
A record only can be "sealed" three years after a person has finished serving his or her sentence for a crime.
Sealing removes the record from the main record file and secures it in a separate file available only to a restricted group of readers. Sealed juvenile records can still be used by judges in later criminal cases against the same person, even after the person becomes an adult.
If the police or a court asks about the record of a person whose record has been sealed, they are told that the person has a "sealed delinquency record over 3 years old." All other people that ask about the record are told that the person has "no record."
What does it mean to "expunge" a record?______________
Expunging a record destroys the record entirely. Juvenile records cannot be expunged in Massachusetts, although several other states do allow some form of expunging. A few states do not allow courts to seal or expunge records at all.
How can I seal a juvenile record?______________
A person with a juvenile record must wait three years after completely serving his or her sentence for the crime before applying to seal the record. In addition, the person cannot have been found guilty of any crime, except for minor traffic offenses, anywhere in the United States within the three years before making the application.
Are the rules for sealing a record the same for adult criminal records?______________
No. Generally, a person must wait for a longer period time before applying to have his or her adult criminal record sealed and some records never can be sealed.
A person can apply to seal an adult criminal record ten years after finishing his or her sentence for a minor or misdemeanor crime or fifteen years after serving a sentence for a major or "felony" crime. In addition, to be eligible for sealing, the person cannot have been found guilty of any crime in Massachusetts or anywhere else in the United States in the past ten years, except for minor traffic offenses. Adult records cannot be sealed for a person found guilty of gun or weapon licensing crimes.
Adult records can be sealed immediately when an adult is found not guilty of a crime of which he or she has been accused on record. Juveniles cannot immediately seal records even when they are found not guilty of a crime-the standard three-year waiting period still applies.
Should I seal my juvenile record?______________
Sealing a juvenile record that lists minor offenses is not recommended. People who inquire about your juvenile criminal record may assume that you committed a very serious crime that you need to hide if they are told that you have a sealed record. Sealing your record could be more damaging to you in the eyes of the police than just allowing the police to see the actual offenses on your record, particularly if those offenses are not major or violent crimes.
How do I respond to any applications that ask about my criminal record?______________
A person with a juvenile record may answer "no record" regarding any juvenile court cases or CHINS proceedings that are tried in juvenile court, regardless of whether or not the juvenile record is sealed. For adult criminal records, a person with a sealed record may respond that he or she has no record.
2007-12-26 05:50:18 · answer #1 · answered by SPMOSHER 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It could have an impact on ones decision of your career, but I think you can also use it to your advantage. I think you can say that because of this and learning how what oyu did was so wrong that it had such an impact that you wanted to persue criminal justice. You were a minor and if you are completely honest and don't try to hide that you did this, I think your chances are as good as anyone elses. Good luck hun. Keep trecking for your dreams and goals. Don't let a mistake made at age 15 make you give up. If you want it bad enough, you will accomplish your goals.
2007-12-26 05:43:49 · answer #2 · answered by Maalru3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So sorry Mike, but you already know the answer. Criminal justice you will have to pass background check and lie detector so come clean now. They just might let you have your dream all depends on how strict your state is.
2007-12-28 11:03:13 · answer #3 · answered by Roxanne G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may encounter some issues with a criminal record. But since it happened when you were 15, there should be some leeway granted to you when you interview for jobs. Good luck!
2007-12-26 05:41:00 · answer #4 · answered by kja63 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's OK. Yes, the fact that you were a juvenile does make a difference. Even better is the fact that if you're planning to work in online fraud detection or risk management, it's actually beneficial to demonstrate that you understand what the crime is about. :)
Don't worry about it.
2007-12-26 05:41:15 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew O 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mike, we all make mistakes in our youth, and some we are not so proud of. That is why your record does not usually follow you into adulthood. For your sake and peace of mind though, I would try to find out what is being shown on my juvenile record in case you might need to see if it could be expunged. I wish you all the best in your field you are going into.
2007-12-26 05:41:35 · answer #6 · answered by Sparkles 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Stealing a credit card number is serious. Most police stations won't hire theives; expecially credit card variety. Why would they when there are qualified candidates who know better?
2007-12-26 06:14:25 · answer #7 · answered by wizjp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well most people think such a young age people can change but others if he wants to be a lawyer and hes broken the law heck-yeah we are going to look down on this so YEAH chances are they will!
2007-12-26 05:44:19 · answer #8 · answered by <3 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In some states, juvenile offenses are not considered crimes at all unless the case is transferred to adult court for adjudication. You should contact a lawyer in the state in which your juvenile court was located and he or she should be able to answer your question easily.
2007-12-26 05:46:10 · answer #9 · answered by alex42z 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Massachusetts is the most liberal state in the United States dude.
yeah you probably won't make it to the field but I wouldn't worry about it. its all good dude just smoke a joint and chill as if nothing happened
2007-12-26 05:41:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋