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I did a criminal background check on myself through the michigan.gov website and it does not show my complete record. It is missing 2 minor in possession of alcohol charges from 8+ years ago. I can't find any of my old court documents about these cases so I don't even really know what year they occurred. Should I still include the charges I had against me even though they are not showing up? I'm thinking I should go down to the court house and try to have them do a records check in person because I don't want to have this held against me during the character and fitness part of the bar. Any one have any suggestions on what I should do?

go wherever you need to go to find out if the convictions exist.. then go from there

Derekj032 wrote:I did a criminal background check on myself through the michigan.gov website and it does not show my complete record. It is missing 2 minor in possession of alcohol charges from 8+ years ago. I can't find any of my old court documents about these cases so I don't even really know what year they occurred. Should I still include the charges I had against me even though they are not showing up? I'm thinking I should go down to the court house and try to have them do a records check in person because I don't want to have this held against me during the character and fitness part of the bar. Any one have any suggestions on what I should do?

I would def still include all the charges against you. You prob will not be caught by the school for not including them on your app but C & F sure as hell will; their background checks are extremely thorough. Then C & F will inform your school that you lied on your app and your degree might be revoked and 3 years and thousands of dollars wasted.

Have you tried calling the courts of the cities you got the charges in?

Disclose it. It's an MIP. They will not care. The risk of appearing dishonest is far too great. What if the bar can get access to records that you overlooked?

HowdyYall wrote:

Derekj032 wrote:I did a criminal background check on myself through the michigan.gov website and it does not show my complete record. It is missing 2 minor in possession of alcohol charges from 8+ years ago. I can't find any of my old court documents about these cases so I don't even really know what year they occurred. Should I still include the charges I had against me even though they are not showing up? I'm thinking I should go down to the court house and try to have them do a records check in person because I don't want to have this held against me during the character and fitness part of the bar. Any one have any suggestions on what I should do?

I would def still include all the charges against you. You prob will not be caught by the school for not including them on your app but C & F sure as hell will; their background checks are extremely thorough. Then C & F will inform your school that you lied on your app and your degree might be revoked and 3 years and thousands of dollars wasted.

Have you tried calling the courts of the cities you got the charges in?

I'm going to head up there tomorrow and see what they can give me. I have 6-7 misdemeanors on my record but they are all from 7 or more years ago and for stupid stuff like drinking underage, being in a park after hours etc... I'm pretty sure they wont matter one bit when applying. I was told the only crimes that would hurt an applicant are violent crimes and crimes of deceit, or theft. Lets hope this is true...

EDIT: i have decided this info is too valuable for u. dont need any more 3rd rate lawyers who cant do simple research by themselves.

dood wrote:EDIT: i have decided this info is too valuable for u. dont need any more 3rd rate lawyers who cant do simple research by themselves.

+1 A google on "how to get your criminal record" pops up several viable sets of directions.

dood wrote:EDIT: i have decided this info is too valuable for u. dont need any more 3rd rate lawyers who cant do simple research by themselves.

I bet you did horrible on the reading comprehension part of the LSAT. FYI the only person in this thread who will make a 3rd rate attorney is yourself. If you read what I wrote you would have seen that I obtained a criminal background check from Michigan.gov which goes through the Michigan state police and is supposed to include ALL criminal convictions in the state of Michigan. I further stated that I would be going to the city courthouse in which these charges occurred to try and obtain more information. Obviously, if they are not showing up in a background check done BY the state of Michigan then they are likely not included in any records. They could have been misplaced, misfiled or never entered into the system for all I know. My question was if these misdemeanors do not show up on any background checks and I can find no record of them from the jurisdiction in which they occurred, should I still disclose them on my applications?

dood wrote:EDIT: i have decided this info is too valuable for u. dont need any more 3rd rate lawyers who cant do simple research by themselves.

You're my hero. Seriously.

Derekj032 wrote:

dood wrote:EDIT: i have decided this info is too valuable for u. dont need any more 3rd rate lawyers who cant do simple research by themselves.

I bet you did horrible on the reading comprehension part of the LSAT.

I will probally regret this....Federal agencies need not comply with state record-keeping laws. Private companies need not comply with expungement orders. Investigators for jobs in the judicial branch have access to "expunged" records. Isn't it better to disclose? If the CF doesn't care, law schools won't if they do care you better pray that you get refused admission.

dextermorgan wrote:

dood wrote:EDIT: i have decided this info is too valuable for u. dont need any more 3rd rate lawyers who cant do simple research by themselves.

You're my hero. Seriously.

I thought lawyers never do their own research anyways.

Patriot1208 wrote:

dextermorgan wrote:

dood wrote:EDIT: i have decided this info is too valuable for u. dont need any more 3rd rate lawyers who cant do simple research by themselves.

You're my hero. Seriously.

I thought lawyers never do their own research anyways.

Yeah, but anything that keeps a third-rate out of law school meets my approval criteria.

Get a lawyer?

Derekj032 wrote:I did a criminal background check on myself through the michigan.gov website and it does not show my complete record. It is missing 2 minor in possession of alcohol charges from 8+ years ago. I can't find any of my old court documents about these cases so I don't even really know what year they occurred. Should I still include the charges I had against me even though they are not showing up? I'm thinking I should go down to the court house and try to have them do a records check in person because I don't want to have this held against me during the character and fitness part of the bar. Any one have any suggestions on what I should do?

Those are not criminal offenses, which is why they're not showing up on a criminal record.

kcdc wrote:

Derekj032 wrote:I did a criminal background check on myself through the michigan.gov website and it does not show my complete record. It is missing 2 minor in possession of alcohol charges from 8+ years ago. I can't find any of my old court documents about these cases so I don't even really know what year they occurred. Should I still include the charges I had against me even though they are not showing up? I'm thinking I should go down to the court house and try to have them do a records check in person because I don't want to have this held against me during the character and fitness part of the bar. Any one have any suggestions on what I should do?

Those are not criminal offenses, which is why they're not showing up on a criminal record.

Yes an MIP is a criminal offense in MI. Most schools ask what you have been charged with as well as convicted. The MIPs get wiped away after 7 years I believe. If you completed probation to get it off your record I don't believe it will show up on the criminal background check through .gov, and therefore you were never convicted.

So if you completed probation or whatnot you dont have a conviction but you were charged with MIP. Just make sure you read carefully what the schools app is asking for.

**This is what I have been told, taking crim next sem so only about 90% sure that this is correct

I agree with some of hte above posts. It can't too much to disclose it. Better now than get screwed later.

I had a similar situation where I checked to get my disposition from an arrest from years ago and found out that they had my last name listed wrong in their records. I was trying to decide if I should have them correct it or just leave it as it was and not mention it in apps.

I figured it wasn't worth it to run the risk of it coming back to me somehow, so I had them correct my name and I'm going to include it in my apps. It seems far more egregious to appear to be hiding or omitting something than to admit to an arrest, especially if it's not a significant charge. So I agree with everyone else who says you should just disclose it.