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Norman Corner
Joined: 09 Feb 2011 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:19 am Post subject: Criminal Record |
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I have been offered a position i China. I am deligted. However I have a criminal record. My last offence was over 20 years ago as a juvenile. Will I be able to teach? |
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80daze
Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:53 am Post subject: |
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That really depends on two things -
first - if it was a very serious crime as it would show on any police check
second - if your school bothers to do a police check.
The school I currently work at does do a police check so you may have to go into details if you were offered a job by a school like mine but my last school (and most schools in China) didn't do any check at all!
The chances are your school won't do a police check but if in doubt just ask them. |
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tttompatz

Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 1951 Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:10 am Post subject: Re: Criminal Record |
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Norman Corner wrote: |
I have been offered a position i China. I am deligted. However I have a criminal record. My last offence was over 20 years ago as a juvenile. Will I be able to teach? |
Easy solution. Go to the state police (I assume you are from the states) and get a copy of your Criminal Background Check.
(If you are not from the states, pop into your local police station and ask for a check).
Until then, everything is simply speculation and what if's.
After that you will know for sure what is and is not there and if you have anything to potentially worry about.
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:06 am Post subject: |
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Does the police record check vary from country to country or company to company?
This issue interests me a bit as well. I was arrested 2-3 times when I was 19 (about 20 years ago) for possession of alcohol in public and having a double-edged knife in my house (purely for decorative purposes).
I received a visa to work/live in Japan with no problems. But when I went back to the US and applied to be a substitute teacher, I got a letter talking about my police record. They asked me to come down and explain in more detail. I didn't. I took another job. Kinda wish I had pushed the issue. Just to see.
Still, I'm curious about other's experiences. And what may happen to me if I job-hunt in other countries. |
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naturegirl321

Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:54 am Post subject: |
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If it wasn't serious and you were underage, you MIGht be able to get it exponged. Keep in mind that it is
1. rather expensive to do
2. Time consuming |
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fladude
Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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steki47 wrote: |
Does the police record check vary from country to country or company to company?
This issue interests me a bit as well. I was arrested 2-3 times when I was 19 (about 20 years ago) for possession of alcohol in public and having a double-edged knife in my house (purely for decorative purposes). |
19 would not be a juvenile record. You are an adult at 18 (assuming this is a US conviction).
As for the knife.... I practiced criminal defense for almost 8 years and have never heard of it being illegal to own a double bladed knife, especially not in your own home. I would be guilty of that offense many times over. Must be a California thing or one of those states.
Anyway I'd just let the employer know about it. It really doesn't sound like a big deal, except for in one or two of the loony countries like S. Korea where ANY conviction prohibits you from working. FWIW I have a criminal conviction for possession of alcohol by a person under age 21 as well, along with a driving while license suspended conviction and an arrest but no conviction for DUI (was found Not Guilty). Anyway all of that is on my record but I still got a state issued teaching certificate, a license to practice law, and was hired as a public school teacher in the USA and have recently been hired to work in Latin America (where I disclosed my record). |
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TeresaLopez

Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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fladude wrote: |
Anyway all of that is on my record but I still got a state issued teaching certificate, a license to practice law, and was hired as a public school teacher in the USA and have recently been hired to work in Latin America (where I disclosed my record). |
Does the simple fact that you were arrested show up? I was arrested twice in relation to political demonstrations I was in, held a while, then released. I have had FBI background checks done in order to be certified to teach in the US, and also for a governement job, and didn�t have any problems, so was wondering if they didn�t show up, or if there are certain things they overlook. I was never asked about arrests, just convictions. |
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fladude
Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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TeresaLopez wrote: |
Does the simple fact that you were arrested show up? I was arrested twice in relation to political demonstrations I was in, held a while, then released. I have had FBI background checks done in order to be certified to teach in the US, and also for a governement job, and didn�t have any problems, so was wondering if they didn�t show up, or if there are certain things they overlook. I was never asked about arrests, just convictions. |
That's a two part question.
First an arrest CAN show up if you were fingerprinted. It does not always show up as sometimes things do fall through the cracks (which is also true of convictions). My arrest for DUI does show up on my FBI report even though I was never convicted of anything. Yours might..
I have never been asked about that arrest by any agency or licensing board, although I have always disclosed it if I was asked. I do not think that your conviction would disqualify you from a US teaching license, so it is possible that it showed up but that no one cared.
Last edited by fladude on Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TeresaLopez

Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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fladude wrote: |
Anyway all of that is on my record but I still got a state issued teaching certificate, a license to practice law, and was hired as a public school teacher in the USA and have recently been hired to work in Latin America (where I disclosed my record). |
Does the simple fact that you were arrested show up? I was arrested twice in relation to political demonstrations I was in, held a while, then released. I have had FBI background checks done in order to be certified to teach in the US, and also for a governement job, and didn�t have any problems, so was wondering if they didn�t show up, or if there are certain things they overlook. I was never asked about arrests, just convictions. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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fladude wrote: |
19 would not be a juvenile record. You are an adult at 18 (assuming this is a US conviction).
As for the knife.... I practiced criminal defense for almost 8 years and have never heard of it being illegal to own a double bladed knife, Must be a California thing or one of those states.
Anyway I'd just let the employer know about it. It really doesn't sound like a big deal, except for in one or two of the loony countries like S. Korea where ANY conviction prohibits you from working. FWIW I have a criminal conviction for possession of alcohol by a person under age 21 as well, along with a driving while license suspended conviction and an arrest but no conviction for DUI (was found Not Guilty). Anyway all of that is on my record but I still got a state issued teaching certificate, a license to practice law, and was hired as a public school teacher in the USA and have recently been hired to work in Latin America (where I disclosed my record). |
Good to know, thank you.
Yes, I was an adult at the the time and the arrests were in California. I was told by a police officer that a WWII knife that I bought at a military surplus store was illegal because it was double-edged.
As for job-hunting, I can just take my chances and see what happens. |
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