More details to this question:
I got arrested for the first time ever for stealing. But i did not get charged with anything i think. i was not on probation and i did not go to jail or court. And i also did not pay for anything. All i was asked to do was do 24 hours of community service and to write an essay on what i did.Can i still get a job? and if they do a background check on me dose that come up?
10 ANSWERS
From your question it sounds like you are a juvenile. In the california juvenile justice system, the juvenile is not charged with a crime the same as in the adult system. In the juvenile system it is not unusual for the court to require the juvenile to write an essay. If this is what happened you do have a petty theft on your record. However once you become an adult, you can have that record sealed in then destroyed.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Criminal Law Attorney serving Oakland, CA
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Law Office of Jared C. Winter
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If you didn't go to court, then you were not convicted of anything.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 8:50 AM
Criminal Law Attorney serving Oakland, CA
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Dennis Roberts A Professional Corporation
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Sounds like a guilty plea to me in which case it will show on your rap sheet. But it might have been diverted. You need to go to the Clerk and ask to see the file to find out what happened.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 8:30 AM
The answer to your question is dependent on various factorsdid this incident happen when you were a juvenile? If so and your were treated like a juvenile, then in all likelihood you were not formally charged and don't have to indicate the information on a job application and the matter will not show up on a background check. However, if this incident occurred while you were an adult then the answer is not that simple and additional facts are necessary to ascertain the impact of what happened. If you were arrested when you were an adult, I would recommend you consult with a defense lawyer.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 8:25 AM
If a Judge told you to do the community service, then yes you must have been charged.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 8:15 AM
Criminal Defense Attorney serving Alhambra, CA
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Francis John Cowhig
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If you were arrested and went before a judge who told you to do 24 hours of community service and write an essay, it sounds like you were charged, convicted and sentenced. Also, depending on what you were charged with, you may or may not be able to get the job you want. Whether the conviction will come up in a background check will depend on how comprehensive the background check is.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 8:12 AM
Criminal Law Attorney serving Fremont, CA
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Steven J. Alpers, A Professional Corporation
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You need to go to the court in the area where the theft occurred to determine if you were charged. This sounds like you had some sort of alternative to a criminal complaint.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 7:54 AM
Wrongful Termination Attorney serving Huntington Beach, CA
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Nelson & Lawless
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You now have an arrest record, apparently showing arrest and release without charges being filed. It will show on checks. Sounds like you got an informal quasi-probation direct from police to avoid court charging. That should not show on your record.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 7:51 AM
Criminal Defense Attorney serving Orange, CA
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Law Office of Joe Dane
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This sounds like an informal juvenile diversion of some sort from what you wrote. Obviously, I can't be 100% sure without knowing more details or looking at any paperwork. If you were under 18 at the time, juvenile records can potentially be sealed. Employers cannot ask about arrests - just convictions or pending cases. If you never went to court, you could not possibly have been convicted. Again - this is based on what limited information you provided.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 7:32 AM
I need a bit more information from you to give you a definite answer. Generally speaking, in a theft case, if you never went to court then you were never convicted of a crime. Therefore, your criminal history would not show any convictions for theft.
Answered on Jul 16th, 2012 at 7:26 AM