Criminal record - USA

[CloaK]

This might not go well...


I worked in IT support (contracting) for about 10 years before getting caught up in some e-commerce with the US which went a little pear-shaped to say the least.

Anyway, I ended up doing 4.5 years in 9 different US prisons.

I've been back a few years now and have tried to keep busy mainly just doing some agency driving work.

I would love to get back into IT and have applied for a few positions but was turned down due to my US record, one actually stated that that was the sole reason, the other said I'd been out of the IT game for too long.

I have no UK convictions, never been arrested (apart from the American case) or even close. Everything is finished with my case.

Am I wasting my time by thinking I'll get an IT job again or should I just forget it?

Would be particularly interested in any recruitment agency's take.

Thanks

[davepoth]

Are we talking state or federal prison? If state, which state(s)?

There is a process called expungement which could clear your record in the US, but it varies from state to state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expungement_in_the_Un...

-edit-

Just out of interest, how obvious is it from a cursory Google that you were involved in what you were involved in?

Edited by davepoth on Monday 23 February 19:21

[carreauchompeur]

At some point over here the rehabilitation of offenders act would kick in, making UK convictions/imprisonment non-declarable... Surely US convictions over here could be treated in the same manner? Expungement in the US wouldn't be relevant to your situation I think.

[davepoth]

carreauchompeur said:

At some point over here the rehabilitation of offenders act would kick in, making UK convictions/imprisonment non-declarable... Surely US convictions over here could be treated in the same manner? Expungement in the US wouldn't be relevant to your situation I think.

Unlock have some info.

http://hub.unlock.org.uk/knowledgebase/convictions...

If any individual sentence you were given was longer than 30 months (2 and a half years) then the UK Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will not help, as there is no rehabilitation of a longer sentence. However, if you were convicted of a series of lesser offences, then you may possibly get rehabilitated by the act.

[citizensm1th]

CloaK said:

This might not go well...


I worked in IT support (contracting) for about 10 years before getting caught up in some e-commerce with the US which went a little pear-shaped to say the least.

Anyway, I ended up doing 4.5 years in 9 different US prisons.

I've been back a few years now and have tried to keep busy mainly just doing some agency driving work.

I would love to get back into IT and have applied for a few positions but was turned down due to my US record, one actually stated that that was the sole reason, the other said I'd been out of the IT game for too long.

I have no UK convictions, never been arrested (apart from the American case) or even close. Everything is finished with my case.

Am I wasting my time by thinking I'll get an IT job again or should I just forget it?

Would be particularly interested in any recruitment agency's take.

Thanks

why are you even telling anyone? do u.s. criminal records show up on a uk crb check id be surprised if they did unless brit plod arrested you and you went through the british courts for deportation?.

[CloaK]

davepoth said:

Are we talking state or federal prison? If state, which state(s)?

Federal. I did time in several states.

davepoth said:

Just out of interest, how obvious is it from a cursory Google that you were involved in what you were involved in?

Not really obvious but I'd rather be upfront with a prospective employer.

davepoth said:

Unlock have some info.

Yes, I've seen some of their stuff, however my sentence was longer than 30 months so as you say the act won't help in that respect.
I have quite a lengthy gap on my CV so even if there was no record of the case I still have the same issue.

citizensm1th said:

why are you even telling anyone? do u.s. criminal records show up on a uk crb check id be surprised if they did unless brit plod arrested you and you went through the british courts for deportation?.

The big gap on the CV is difficult to get around without lying and could open another can of worms and possibly leave me subject to criminal proceedings. I've had enough of that.

[citizensm1th]

Cant help but feel your over thinking it(understandable with your past)plenty of people travel abroad for extended periods.

If a prospective employer doesn't ask don't volunteer the information im sure there are plenty of small to medium uk owned companies where you can restart your career path just stay away from industries that require disclosure due to uk law i.e. finance

[davepoth]

As you say, the gap is problematic even if you managed to do anything about getting your record cleaned up. It may still be worth looking into the expungement route just in case there's any mileage in it.

IMO the best way around it is to leave it as a gap on the CV and explain it if and when you get into the room for an interview. Don't attempt to sugar coat it, but try and draw something positive out of it if you can (although goodness knows what that might be).

Your other option is to move to Europe - the laws for rehabilitation in certain countries are quite a lot looser than they are in the UK, but I'm not too certain whether they'll treat foreign convictions in the same way we do here. Ireland unfortunately has no such law, but Scandinavia may be a good shout.

[NDA]

Dare we ask what you did to get locked up?

[Brother D]

citizensm1th said:

Cant help but feel your over thinking it(understandable with your past)plenty of people travel abroad for extended periods.

If a prospective employer doesn't ask don't volunteer the information im sure there are plenty of small to medium uk owned companies where you can restart your career path just stay away from industries that require disclosure due to uk law i.e. finance

I agree with that, and if you have served a sentence then that should be all dues paid in my book. I know several people who work for financials who have criminal records for GBH and/or supply etc and all of whom have done time at Her Majesty's pleasure, yet their criminal record was never looked into, or the banks chose to ignore it.

However if you are getting back into IT what type? It does move at a pretty rapid rate...

[citizensm1th]

Its sad to think the Op has this albatross around his neck for life unless he is either lucky and finds an understanding employer or tells a few fibs and hopes for the best.

im guessing the e-commerce thing is fraud related which is serious but I am a believer in rehabilitation of offenders. and while the op should not attempt to gain employment in in a sensitive occupation like finance there must be some part of the i.t. field where this would not be critical?

its an interesting moral question should the op be condemned for life or allowed to recommence his occupation after paying his debt to uncle sam

( apologies to the op if I have jumped to the wrong conclusion re the offence committed)

[CloaK]

citizensm1th said:

Cant help but feel your over thinking it(understandable with your past)plenty of people travel abroad for extended periods.

If a prospective employer doesn't ask don't volunteer the information im sure there are plenty of small to medium uk owned companies where you can restart your career path just stay away from industries that require disclosure due to uk law i.e. finance

I hear you.

It boils down again to the CV, I know I don't have to volunteer the information but its this big time gap, 3 years foolishly spent fighting extradition and the guts of 5 years in hotels manned by staff with guns and badges.

[CloaK]

NDA said:

Dare we ask what you did to get locked up?

If you were the PH shot-caller for the Woods I'd happily show you my papers so I could walk the yard.

This is actually what happens!

[CloaK]

Brother D said:

However if you are getting back into IT what type? It does move at a pretty rapid rate...

Nothing special, just 2nd line support/rollout work. I'm more of a people person than a techie. I did exec. level support for BP in London.

[Vaud]

Can you re-train in the evenings?

PHP, web site management, etc? Start solo for SMEs who won't ask - you are their service provider?

[DCS01]

I don't want to put a dampener on things, but I take it you don't have US citizenship. Do you know if the Americans will even let you back in the country, with a history like you have.
I've not been so good myself and have had convictions in this country, so can sympathies with you.
I know there is the online form's you have to fill out and they mention restrictions on entry if you have convictions, from either country.

Best of luck with both the job hunt and getting back to the US.

[Mark-C]

Sorry, I may have misread some of the above but are you looking at a job in the UK as a UK citizen? If so unless you are looking at SC or DV classified work then an employer may ask for your UK criminal record vis https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-chec... and you can ask for one yourself for £26. Fairly sure that doesn't show up foreign convictions but probably worth the spend to see what a UK company would see.

You're still left with the CV gap of course but it's then down to you and how you feel about dealing with it.

Good luck. I've had a criminal conviction a long time ago and all is good now but it's hard work to get there.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

OP, try approaching some charities and offer to do unpaid IT work for them. If you can get work of that kind, it'll help balance up your previous misdemeanours when you apply for paid jobs. Plus it'll sharpen up your IT skills after your time away from the industry.

It'll be a pain working unpaid for a year or so but if you can manage it, it's the way back.

[valiant]

Re the gap in employment.

Can't you claim to be backpacking around the world or summat? Tell them you were looking for your inner self and now that you've found it, you want to get back into the world of work...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Everyone suggesting lies the OP can tell to cover the employment gap seem to be overlooking the comment below.

CloaK said:

The big gap on the CV is difficult to get around without lying and could open another can of worms and possibly leave me subject to criminal proceedings. I've had enough of that.