criminal history question Forum

[O.J.]

How do we go about running our own criminal history? I was in a stupid fist fight outside of a bar, defending a friend, about 20 years ago (I'm a non-trad obviously) but have no idea when exactly it was. I spent the night in jail, and the judge wiped it from my record the next day and no charges were filed. However I still want to be transparent about it with LSAC, but have zero details on the matter.

Do I just call the cops in that area? Is there an official way to run your own records?

Outside of that, a few minor traffic violations in the past 20 years. How do I obtain those as well?

Thanks guys!

[Alive97]

Well the acquittal should negate the first trial for you. However the white ford bronco thing is so widely known that you'll probably have to disclose.

[Good Guy Gaud]

OJ, yes, try to contact the police department in that area. They may not keep records but should be able to direct you to the agency/office that does. You can probably find about your traffic violations that way as well. Schools probably won't give a damn about something like that that happened so long ago but you are doing the right thing by playing it safe and disclosing it if you think it may show up somewhere.

Double-check the language in any of the applications. Some of them are temporally limited so you won't have to go back 20 years or so.

[proctor_right_in_the]

You can also run a background check on yourself to get dates and specifics. The arrest might show up. Your state's DOJ will have some info, and an FBI background check will have other info. Go to a notary, it's easier than the police station, IMO, and it costs the same. It's only about $30 for each check, but if they do a "live scan", it'll be closer to $80. The live scan is faster and easier. You'll have the report in about 3 days.

Seeing as this wasn't a federal matter, you might just want to do the DOJ.

[O.J.]

Thanks for all the help guys, that's just what I needed!

[proctor_right_in_the]

If you're in Westwood, go to http://m.santamonicanotary.com/?smallView=1

Bring them this form https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agwe ... 016FP.pdf?

You can use that for DOJ and FBI.

[O.J.]

The incident was in another city in California.

[proctor_right_in_the]

It will still come up on the DOJ report. It's statewide. Any incident in CA where you were fingerprinted and/or mirandized.

[clshopeful]

Hey OJ,

Love the new documentary that is airing! You CRIMINAL YOU!!

[lawschoolsplit2023]

Suppose you’ve had a perfect record and are up in your 30s and want to attend law school, as you have some goal of utilizing that degree in a non legal capacity.

Also suppose that while always having a clear record there may be a pending case open based on false allegations you don’t want to deal with now since there isn’t a warrant or open case, while could be charges filed with some court being unserved not knowing your current address. So you want to attend law school and want to assure acceptance, but not interested in sitting for the bar

If you fill out you have no criminal history and get accepted at ucla or southern cal could they background anyway and see an unserved case?

After 1l if you transfer to Berkeley or Stanford would they background check or likely not either? And how do you know? Hoping for a no for both

[topgun342]

lawschoolsplit2023, if you don't have a conviction that definitely won't keep you from being able to be barred. Omitting it from your law school applications could though. I think you will find that employers do not place much value on a law degree if you are not a lawyer, so going to law school probably is not worth it if you don't intend to become a lawyer.