How having a criminal record can impact your life
Paul C. was eighteen years old when he was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. It was a warm night in July, the summer between high school and college. It was the last time he would have this level of freedom. It was bittersweet; he was excited about his future at college and beyond. He was worried too. Would a four-year degree be enough or should he go for his Masters? He was also going to attend a school out of state, and he was going to miss his friends and family. Everything was changing, and he wanted to have a good time with his friends before he left. It had never seemed like a big deal before, but being arrested changed everything. He wasn't going to college.
His chances of getting a good job were gone. One youthful indiscretion and everything had changed.
Time passed. Paul finished his probation and paid his fines and court costs. He completed the required counseling and moved on with his life. He attended community college and received an Associates degree. He had made a mistake and learned his lesson, but was it enough?
He had lost too many opportunities over the years. He struggled with how unfair it was. Sometimes, he admitted to the charge on job applications only to find out he was never even considered for the job. Other times he didn't admit to it - it just wasn't fair - but when it was discovered during a background check, he would lose the position for dishonesty. Having a criminal record can negatively impact your life in so many ways. It affects your ability to obtain and maintain employment, rent property, and attend college. It can affect your relationship with others around you. Friends and family may no longer feel comfortable with you because they don't understand the circumstances around what happened.
So the question is, what can you do?
Be honest and be prepared. Find out what employers may find on your pre-employment background checks. Get case details of what happened, including charge information and classification, disposition, and sentencing. Know what to disclose and why. Almost a third of Americans have been arrested for a crime in their lifetime. You deserve to know exactly what's in your background. CheckMyCriminal.com offers criminal and other public record history searches for a single, one time only fee. No subscription. No hidden fees. Actual record searches, conducted when you request them, and typically returned within one to seventy-two hours. You should pay for the search you actually want and not for a database of outdated information.
