The plea deal or original charge

And just to point this out..
I've never filled out an app that has asked what charges are filed. (Is that even a legal question on an app?) Every one I have seen asks about convictions. In that case the answer is obvious....

 

It only goes back so far. I think its 3 years. If your conviction or current charges are older than that, they won't show up on a background check.

 

This

This is suppose to be an innocent till proven guilty america so I would put down what the final charge is.

 

Remember, in the US, you are innocent until proven guilty. They can charge you with anything, that doesn't mean you actual did it. Charges with out a conviction mean nothing.

 

And sadly, even a conviction doesn't necessarily mean you did it.

 

Cant you g

Can't you get it removed at this point?

10 years in Canada you can get a pardon I believes. Cost you about 1000 dollars. Wipes your record unless you are dangerous status which is rare

 

What was the question? "Have you been convicted of any crime?"

If you plead guilty to a crime that is the only thing that you need to list: What you plead to. Whatever the heck you were accused of is entirely irrelevant. What you were convicted of is. Pleading guilty to a charge is a conviction.

If you got a plea bargain to a non-criminal offense then you have not been convicted of a crime. For the purpose of this exercise you can answer "no" in that case.

Bottom line: If you have been arrested and gone to court you have to understand what happened. You can't just blow it off, you have to know what you plead to, or were convicted of, and whether it was a violation or a crime. I know most people have no idea what the difference is, but if you have been arrested and gone through the system then you #### well need to know. Your options and future are on the line.

Good people screw themselves everyday because they have no idea what happened when they got stupid and got cross ways with the law. Don't compound the stupid, KNOW what you were convicted of and whether it was a violation or a crime.

 

From what you have written and your location, I assume you plead to Disorderly Person as a misdemeanor in Michigan.

The maximum penalty is 90 days and/or $500 fine, which you need to know because sometimes the question is asked "Have you ever been convicted of a crime which is punishable by imprisonment for a period of more than 1 year?" It is a way to determine if you are a felon. You are not.

Were you fingerprinted and photographed? If no, then this record is only a local record. If yes, then this record is in both state and federal databases and it will show the original charges and the charge convicted, penalty, etc.

But it is only the charge that you were convicted of that you need to disclose to a prospective employer, if they ask. And pay attention to any qualifiers in the question: "In the LAST FIVE YEARS have you..." Depending on how they do their background investigation that is likely all they will get on the return anyway.

Don't go all Chatty Kathy about things which they aren't asking for.