"Long Story Short" kind of question

[Bink81]

Ok guys, I'm from Central NC, I have a complicated story. Lost my dad to Cancer at 18, I am 24 now. Got surrounded by the wrong people around the time I lost him(namely, my own mother and her husband). Unfortunately, got caught up in some charges (no convictions). No drugs, just stupid spiteful stuff thst was never even so much as continued in court. Long story short, I was curious to whether or not I was wasting my time in a possible future in LE.

In all this mishap, somehow I got charged with breaking and entering in my own residence. Got a 50-B by my mom in which she never pursued. And I've noticed "domestic" is really frowned upon in agencies, regardless of the circumstances and I understand that. The problem is, when I go to look at my background check, none of this shows up. Just a couple speeding tickets and ONE charge, which was injury to property. I went last year to Davidson Co. Sheriff to get my letter of sponsorship signed and was honest and truthful to the best of my knowledge, all the way back to every arrest and ticket. Of course I got turned down. but I'm not sure what to think. The lady I spoke with says "Sorry Brandon, at this current time, we cannot sponsor you. But DO NOT let this discourage you, you can get on anywhere in NC". So I'm confused. If its not listed, I still want to be honest, in case there's something they can see that I cant. I dont want to leave this out when I go to get sponsorship.

If there happens to be charges, can I get them exponged??? All I know is its very embarrassing but, I'm willing to do what it takes to get there, just need the guidance and the answers from you guys.

Thanks for the help,
Bink

[Starfleet Officer]

What stands out to me is that you seem to blame your record in your circumstances rather than yourself. You say you "got surrounded by" the wrong people and "got caught up in" some charges as if you were just a bystander in all this. YOU surrounded yourself with the wrong people and YOU incurred charges. It is nobody else's fault. Also, I'm very sorry that you lost your father, but it is not relevant for hiring purposes and doesn't excuse or mitigate any of your actions.

Hiring boards may not be looking for people who have never made a mistake, but they are ABSOLUTELY looking for people who will take responsibility for their actions. Based on your post, you don't sound like one of those people.

More experienced people than I will be posting before long and telling you that your story is too vague but that it sounds as if you'll probably be disqualified. They're right, and you should pay close attention to what they say and take it for the straightforward advice that it is.

[sgt jon]

1. Even if you could have these supposed charges expunged from your record, the incidents still occurred and you would still have to disclose them in the course of a background investigation.

2. As already noted, you seem to be intent on passing blame and responsibility onto others. Perhaps some time devoted to appreciating what you did and owning up to your personal responsibilities would help.

3. As for your chances, I have no idea based on what you just posted.

[BigDog4907]

When I was in high school, I lost both of my parents in a single day. I din't get surrounded by bad things or get into much trouble and I lived in a pretty rough city. I guess that is why on one hand I really get tired of hearing people whine, b*thch, complain, or blame their circumstances on events that happened in their life. While on the other hand, I can understand what a HUGE challenge it is. Sorry to hear that your mom sucked at being a parent. You can't pick your parents. However, you were 18. At that age you are a young man that can fight and die for your country. I guess you should have been old enough to know better than to act like a d*ck.

If you want to pursue LE as a career, you have a lot of self examination to do first and then a lot of growing up to do. I would just venture a guess that you probably aren't ready for this lifestyle yet.
Best of luck to you though.

[Bink81]

Well apparently I worded it wrong. First off, how it came across that my dad dying had anything to do with the hiring process, I'm not sure of. I was just trying to explain the best way I could. Not looking for pity, just some answers. It was MY choice to be around the people I surrounded myself with and should have known better. Just hard times and dumb mistakes that have left me with some regret and a little confusion. When I went for my sponsorship letter to be signed in 2010, I told the lady everything that happened and didnt point any blame...I'm not here to "declare my innocence" or anything. I was just curious what you guys thought about my chances as far as the 50-B and b&e. Seeing as those were the two that really stand out.

[Zeitgeist]

Ok guys, I'm from Central NC, I have a complicated story. Lost my dad to Cancer at 18, I am 24 now. Got surrounded by the wrong people around the time I lost him(namely, my own mother and her husband). Unfortunately, got caught up in some charges (no convictions). No drugs, just stupid spiteful stuff thst was never even so much as continued in court. Long story short, I was curious to whether or not I was wasting my time in a possible future in LE.

In all this mishap, somehow I got charged with breaking and entering in my own residence. Got a 50-B by my mom in which she never pursued. And I've noticed "domestic" is really frowned upon in agencies, regardless of the circumstances and I understand that. The problem is, when I go to look at my background check, none of this shows up. Just a couple speeding tickets and ONE charge, which was injury to property. I went last year to Davidson Co. Sheriff to get my letter of sponsorship signed and was honest and truthful to the best of my knowledge, all the way back to every arrest and ticket. Of course I got turned down. but I'm not sure what to think. The lady I spoke with says "Sorry Brandon, at this current time, we cannot sponsor you. But DO NOT let this discourage you, you can get on anywhere in NC". So I'm confused. If its not listed, I still want to be honest, in case there's something they can see that I cant. I dont want to leave this out when I go to get sponsorship.

If there happens to be charges, can I get them exponged??? All I know is its very embarrassing but, I'm willing to do what it takes to get there, just need the guidance and the answers from you guys.

Thanks for the help,
Bink

Be careful using this kind of logic. Be honest because you are an honest person, not because 'in case there is something they can see'.
I don't know what a B-50 is.....it sounds like a geographic thing. Maybe try the NC sub forum. The rest of it is pretty vague so I can't tell if you're a viable applicant or not.

[Bink81]

When I spoke with the recruiting lady I was 100% honest but what I'm asking is, if its not showing on my criminal record check, then am I supposed to be telling them. But someone already answered that for me. I just didnt want to step on my own toes, I'm not exactly the most confident person as I understand I am an some odds obviously. I dont want anyone to think I'm tryin' to attain anything dishonestly

[PhilipCal]

Not knowing what a 50-B is, I'll attempt a reply. It essentially mirrors that of my colleagues, and they have really replied to you quite well. From your post it's evident that you have some issues. They're yours, and you're responsible for them. Breaking and Entering is another phrase for Burglary. Both are felonies. Departments are not nearly as interested in the disposition of charges, as they are in the circumstances which lead to the arrest(s) in the first place. There can be any number of reasons why charges are not pursued. They can be nolle-prossed, dismissed, plead out to lessor included offenses, the list goes on. The fact that your "sponsorship was denied should be a clue as to what your application future in LE might look like. You're looking at some significant problems.

[Iowa #1603]

Long story SHORT answer.

It depends.

[Street_Cop50]

Got a 50-B by my mom in which she never pursued. And I've noticed "domestic" is really frowned upon in agencies

"50B" = Domestic Violence

A domestic assault charge (regardless of whether you were found guilty or not guilty) will pretty much DQ you from 99% of the agencies out there. That, along with the B&E, and the fact that you were 18 at the time, means that you will have zero chance of getting hired into LE.

[sgt jon]

When I spoke with the recruiting lady I was 100% honest but what I'm asking is, if its not showing on my criminal record check, then am I supposed to be telling them. But someone already answered that for me. I just didnt want to step on my own toes, I'm not exactly the most confident person as I understand I am an some odds obviously. I dont want anyone to think I'm tryin' to attain anything dishonestly

You are asking the same types of questions posed by countless other interlopers who visit this site. In which you present vague statements in order to elicit a response that will appease you. The first failure on your part was failing to orient yourself to this site. Had you done so you would have seen numerous posts that mirror yours and the cogent responses provided by the learned members who take the time to answer time and time again.

To the point: Even if a matter was not formally charged, the vast majority of departments will at one stage or another ask if you have ever been involved with the police as a subject. The key word is SUBJECT. In this, you were detained, questioned, a person of interest, etc, etc, etc. Even if you were not formally charged or if the charges were later dropped, you were a SUBJECT and that is something you must disclose.

Your past portends of unlikely success in your pursuit of a LE career, but I am not the selecting official. If I were, I would weigh not just your past acts but also the manner in which you reveal said acts. I would key in on quibbling, evasiveness, minimization and such. All of which indicate to me that you not only fail to admit culpability but also an obvious sign that you will likely be evasive in the future.

You must disclose contacts with the police that involve you being a subject.

[PhilipCal]

"50B" = Domestic Violence

A domestic assault charge (regardless of whether you were found guilty or not guilty) will pretty much DQ you from 99% of the agencies out there. That, along with the B&E, and the fact that you were 18 at the time, means that you will have zero chance of getting hired into LE.

A Domestic Violence and a Felony.Not looking good there, Bink. Don't think you're going to make the cut.

[Bink81]

The 50B was taken out and was dropped in 3 weeks (approx) once it went to court. The b&e was a misdameanor. I walked in the unlocked back door of my residence at the time & was arrested a couple days later for b&e

[Bink81]

I know these may come off as silly questions & maybe even a bit complicated. Just trying to figure it all out

[L-1]

Let’s try it another way. It’s not a matter whether you were convicted, or charges were dropped, or your record expunged. The issue is what you did.

If your conduct (whatever it was) is deemed unacceptable by the standards of the agency you are applying with, you will be DQed.

To give you an idea, here are some of the DQ factors for my agency. If there is anything in your personal history that meets any one of these criteria, you are gone.

All candidates for, appointees to, and employees in the civil service shall possess the general qualifications of integrity, honesty, sobriety, dependability, industry, thoroughness, accuracy, good judgment, initiative, resourcefulness, courtesy, ability to work cooperatively with others, willingness and ability to assume the responsibilities and to conform to the conditions of work characteristic of the employment, and a state of health, consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

While I don't know the specifics of your personal history, generally speaking, an applicant with DV and B&E events might be viewed as lacking the traits of integrity, honesty, good judgment, courtesy and the ability to work cooperatively with others, making them an easy DQ.