How will a retail fraud affect background checks for jobs?

You may be eligible to expunge that prior conviction. Expunging a crime in Michigan is complicated. This response does not contain specific legal advice. If you need specific legal advice for your own circumstances, I recommend consulting with an attorney experienced with these types of matters. Most attorneys provide free initial consultations. Speaking in general terms, there are several significant obstacles to getting offenses expunged in Michigan. Expunging a criminal charge is great way of clearing up past mistakes. However, there are a series of obstacles. First, a person may expunge only one prior conviction and they can only have "no more than 2 minor offenses in addition to the offense for which the person files an application." MCL 780.621(1). Second, certain offenses cannot be expunged. Traffic offenses for example, even something as simple as driving on a suspended license, a lot of high level or capital felonies, and other offenses as listed in the applicable statutes, cannot be expunged. It depends on which offense is currently on the person's record. Additionally, even if a person only had one offense, if they had issues with probation, i.e., probation violations or other infractions while serving their sentence, that may be obstacle as well. There is also a time limitation. Any effort to expunge an offense cannot commence until five years after the date of conviction. Lastly, expunging an offense from a criminal record takes time, requires a lot of paperwork, carries some notable costs, and eventually, applicants need to appear before a judge and convince the judge that they are worthy of having the offense expunged in order to complete the process. Please consult with and retain a criminal defense attorney, preferably an experienced one who has handled these matters, to assist you with the process.

A retail fraud is a theft crime. Some employers may look at this as an issue of honesty and decide not to hire you. It may not matter for others. Expungement is another matter. With only one misdemeanor, you could wait 5 years and then file a motion for expungement. However, you have two misdemeanors. You should hire an attorney to look at what could be done, depending on where the convictions are and the circumstances of the convictions. I hope that this was helpful.

It will show up on your record. and it could affect your employment depending on what type of employment you are seeking. It is a crime of dishonesty so any retail positions or jobs that involve confidential matters or managing funds or accounts could be affected.

If the end result is a conviction, it will always show up on a background check. You could ask for an expungement after 5 years if it is the only criminal conviction on your record.