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[quote=Anonymous][quote]I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, but I really am frustrated that so many of you seem to think that only people who committed crimes have been arrested (or convicted). When I was 18, I was nannying full time and attending college part time. I had a boyfriend; we'd been dating nearly a year at that point. He did not have a car. He had a friend, Mike, who I had met, and he seemed very nice.

Well, one day, my BF and I were together, and he got a call from Mike. Mike's car was in the shop, and he needed someone to drive him to the store. I agreed to help. Well, as soon as we arrived at the store, a swat team surrounded my car. Apparently Mike had been going to the store to meet up for a drug deal (he was intending to sell pot), but he had been set up. I had no idea Mike did drugs at all! Mike was in the back seat, and when he saw the police he put his drugs in the side pocket of the back door of my car. The police searched all of us, and my car. Mike insisted the drugs in my car were not his. Of course I told the police that I had no idea about any of this, but they found the drugs in my car, so I was held responsible. I was arrested for both the possession of marijuana and being "an accessory to drug distribution."

Mike ended up getting out of his charges by giving the police information about his sources. I hired an expensive lawyer. He told me the best he could do was get them to drop the accessory charge and "reduce the possession charge from 'marijuana' to 'paraphernalia.'"

So, I've had that possession of paraphernalia on my record for years (in hindsight, now that marijuana is legal in many places, I almost wish it hadn't been changed to paraphernalia, which is obviously more ambiguous). I attempted to get it expunged but was told that that was not possible. This all happened over twelve years ago. I have never done drugs. I have since completed my ECE degree, and have never found myself at a loss for a good nanny position. Thankfully I have impeccable references and am great at what I do, despite making an honest mistake when I was still a teenager. Most families I have worked with have either found me on care.com (where I have a ton of awesome reviews) or have been friends with my previous clients. Very few have asked for a background check, and I have been honest with those that did, and they've all still offered me the job, every time.

It makes me sad that so many of you are so closed minded. I understand being careful about who you hire to care for your children, but to say that any blemish on your record, no matter what it was for, or how long ago, trumps any amount of experience, education, or references, well, I just don't understand that. People can get arrested and even convicted without actually committing a crime. The law enforcement and judicial systems in our country is far from perfect.[/quote]

MB here. I'm not going to flame you. I'm going to thank you for posting.

To be truthful, I'm not *likely* to automatically hire someone with a conviction, but I would give the potential nanny to explain the conditions of her arrest and when it occurred and if I thought she was a stellar candidate in every other way, I would hire her. Circumstances matter and no one should be automatically denied a chance to clean up their life and find a good job.

One of the best people I know works with young people. He has a long ago DUI on his record and was incredibly worried he would not be hired in a new job. This man is one of the most talented and patient teachers and his students are so lucky to know him. He dealt with his DUI years ago, no longer drinks, and did everything possible to show his worth in every job. He got the job. I'm glad there are such things as second chances.[/quote]

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