criminal record

[No_Hindrance]

Hi just wondering if anyone could help me out with a quick question. I went to court last year for some minor drug offences in QLD and I got off with a fine and "No Conviction Recorded" and im wondering what does this actually mean for me? At first I thought it meant it was not on my record but I have been reading up some stuff on the internet and seems as though if someone looks up my record the charge details still come up and it will just state that there was no conviction recorded. I dont understand this as it seems to defeat the whole purpose of a conviction not being recorded in the first place. Does it differ state by state? Im quite worried about this because I love travelling overseas, especially to Asia and im thinking if I need to apply for a visa then this is going to be a deterrant for me if it comes up when people check it even though I had no conviction recorded. Anyone have any ideas about this? Im trying to find some accurate information because whats on the net is hazy and people I ask (lawyers, police) all seem to have different answers to one another.

 

[Pistachio]

Well, for what it is worth, I was caught with a small amount of marijuana when I was about 15, I was told the records of it would be removed when I reached 18. Not too long ago I lost my wallet and went to the police station and the police informed me that they checked and found I the record of that event in their system.

So the police still have access to a record of it, but I don't think anyone outside of the justice and police system do. So it doesn't effect my ability to get a passport or job or anything of that sort. Perhaps your record is of a similar nature.

 

[Doooofus]

I think the USA has pretty strict visa entry checks - where they ask if you have ever been charged for a drug related offense - whereas most other countries ask if you have been convicted, which you haven't. My understanding is as Pistachio said, the criminal and justice system can access it (say if you get pulled over for speeding they'll know) but employers and other countries cannot access the record.

 

[mushi mushi 88]

I was caught with 2500 pharmaceutical drugs all the good ones when I was 18 along with a couple of other charges to follow it at the same time.

I stole the pill's from the warehouse I was working simply to just get really fucked up. The cops got me when I had been on a 5 day bender I seemed to get locked up every night over those 5 days and by the end of it they were sick of me. Over that period I built up 11 charges against me to this point I don't remember doing many of them, ( I was way to fucked up, I went to hospital from an overdose)....

When the court date came around I couldn't remember anything I had done, these were all my first offenses so I was let off with 12 months probation and a small fine of $500. My lawyer who I didn't pay for told the lawyer what I told him that I was just "Trying to have a good time" and didn't know that I was doing anything wrong; which truly I was doing everything wrong. I apologized to the Judge and everything and thats what I got. I was stocked I thought I was fucked.

I suppose I don't look the part though he just said, "Now let's hope this is the last time I see you and you stay on the straight track now".... I was back in court 3 weeks later for another more serious offense which kept me in court for 14 months I beat that one though I was looking at 7 years jail but got away with a $3700 fine and a hefty lawyers fee...

 

[Doooofus]

^ ... But what about recorded convictions? That's what the thread is about, can you shed any light on whether your convictions were recorded and any effect that has had on you obtaining a visa etc?

 

[kingpin007]

Also dont forget after 10years the convictions if minor are pretty much disregarded if you get in trouble again unless if its for same thing.

I got done for stealing walkman from shop when I was 19 & now im 32 and I have not broken the law since and that was my only offence ever, no traffic offences ever , only thing illegal i do is smoke pot and pop a pill nearly every weekend , so im not much of a worry lol. I have been on a jury , worked for qantas and passed all fed police checks even drug tests LMAO ( dont know how).

say you stole a walkman from a shop when you were 19 and now your 30 then you wont have any real problems unless convictions are for large drugs charges , rape or other sex offences and of course murder then it will follow in your shadow for good and your lifes pretty much over.

If conviction is not recorded then there is still the police file which they are allowed to use to match finger prints etc thats why its kept. Anyone now under any charges if asked to has to supply a dna swap for all records well this is what they do when you enter jail.

 

[mushi mushi 88]

For my first lot of charges I didn't get no record it just went on my probation order. All I had to do was not do drugs and behave myself and see a probation officer once a week for 12 months, after that all the charges would not mean anything like deleted them or something as long as you didn't break the law again.

It must be your first offense though otherwise your fucked.... This is in Queensland as well may be different in other states...

 

[Mr Blonde]

This is a topic I'm interested in, my friend got busted with a pill at Schoolies last year and did that Drug Diversion things, no conviction recorded. He wants to go into the ADF for a year, and I'm wondering if this could affect his entry...

 

[Sansage]

When in doubt...

My guess...if I was in your shoes I would call the office of whoever you get your visa and so forth from and ask them if convictions lead to higher visa fees, extended background search, or complete visa rejection etc. just to feel them out.

If they respond convictions won't prevent from getting a passport or whatever then you know you're safe...seeing as you did not get a conviction. Moreover, there may be a few more hurdles but I doubt have a "no conviction recorded" will ban you from traveling to Asia, unless of course that's how they roll.

But for real for real. You have nothing to worry about. In the meantime though, keep you nose clean. Stay to yourself and out of trouble and you should be fine. People who serve time can still travel internationaly...they just strip searched at every major checkpoint, and are always randomly selected.

Hope this helps

 

[mushi mushi 88]

I went to Hong Kong in September last year for about 3 weeks, I was half way through a major court case and still on my probation period at the time...

It was a mission to have to be aloud to go over their, cause I wasn't aloud to leave the state, I had to get letters of permission from somebody up the line, have to let them know what I'm doing every day and every hour of each day and when I'm leaving and when I'm coming back to the hour... Talk about a fuck around.

I guess they just wanted to know everything in case I tried to jump country or something..