Arrested at 18, am I fucked?

Incoming FT An1 and really overthinking the background check…Long story short, I worked at a department store and got arrested for stealing clothing from the store (no more than $75 worth). I ended up getting “arrested” and charged but went though a diversion program so that the charges were dropped. Since the arrest is still on my record, am I fucked for the background check?

Side note: If I were to get my record sealed would it still show up on the FINRA background check?

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Bit surprising they would arrest you. Just curious, did they give you the option to buy back the clothes and have the charges dropped? That's really extreme.

If your charges were dropped, you have nothing to worry about. Arrests aren't tracked btw. I had a misdemeanor at 17, but that went away once I hit 18 and had no other charges for 6 months. Never once did I mention this in my interviews, and I've been in the field for a while.

Curious why would you steal clothes that have so little value? Didn't you think this would be tracked back to you one day, given that these stores have cameras and robust inventory tracking systems?

Would be funny if you worked with your former department store haha

 

OP here. If i could have re-purchased the clothes a would’ve (could have saved a lot in legal fees lol). I was just a dumb 18 year-old kid at the time, didn’t think about future consequences I suppose. Really I was nervous as I read that FINRA uses the FBI database but not sure honestly, glad to hear arrears aren’t tracked.

 

Unfortunately, this is not correct. Arrests will still show up in the FBI database if not expunged. Know someone who learned this the hard way (did a pre-trial diversion program, had shoplifting charges downgraded to a misdemeanor and subsequently dropped, only for it to appear on a background check years later). Would get this expunged and / or sealed and do it yesterday. 

 

Found out that the record is sealed already thank god, but the case was dismissed and the charges were specific to embezzlement…which isn’t great. Have you heard of anyone getting denied their FT role after something like this? I’ve called everywhere and haven’t gotten a clear answer.

 
Controversial

Lmao fuck off hardo he was 18 years old. He was a kid, relax.

“Hope you learned your lesson” 🤣🤣 nobody likes you

 

Hey I am reaching out because I have a fingerprint check soon (FBI) for a job in finance. I got arrested but not convicted of a drug misdemeanor possession charge which i got the case dismissed and sealed. Will it pop up on my FBI fingerprint check?

 

Depends heavily on the state and how they coordinate with the FBI's record division. For example, some states only submit charges/fingerprints for felonies while others will submit for any arrest.

You can actually submit your fingerprints to the FBI and run a background check on yourself. If it comes back clean, then FINRA won't be able to see anything either.

If your charge still comes up, you'll have to petition the court that expunged / sealed your record to submit a request for destruction to the FBI. Unfortunately, the entire criminal record process isn't as automated or seamless as it should be. Even if your record is supposed to be destroyed at all levels in theory, that's not always reality.

As long as your record isn't in the FBI database, there's no reason that you should self report the arrest (even though FINRA will tell you to report it anyways). Obviously not a lawyer here, but there's no other way that they'll find out, so why bring trouble upon yourself unnecessarily?

 

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