[flybxt1969]

When my husband was 20, he was arrested for having sex with his girlfriend in the car. The charges were dropped, however he never had his arrest expunged so technically, he does have an arrest history. I have done several criminal background checks through different resources and they are all showing the record as being clean. I am wondering, is this something that we need to include in our application/homestudy? If so, is this going to disqualify us from adopting? I am so terrified that this childish mistake from so long ago is going to ruin everything for us. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[KansasMomToBe]

I think it would be best that you were honest about it. Omitting the arrest and being caught in a lie later would be worse than just telling them that your husband made an immature mistake when he was younger.

At an adoption clinic that I went to they told the families to include any little thing. They said that prior arrests and would not keep someone from being approved for adoption.

[KSC0917]

Absolutely! The SW needs to know everything that could potentially "pop up" in a background check. It's better to be safe than sorry. We are all human and have all made mistakes. They know this.

[Wisdom]

If they ask if there's ever been an arrest, then yes it should be mentioned. More than likely you'll have to submit an explanation of the arrest. My husband stole a book in college and was arrested. We mentioned that on the home study and it didn't affect our home study at all. Even though they did the background check, our adoption agency (different agency than our home study agency) still wanted us to obtain documentation from the court that showed the case was cleared and resolved. It should not pose a problem for you.

[Whirled_Peas]

My husband was CONVICTED of criminal littering when he was in college. How funny is that. I'm not even sure what that is. Something to do with a party in the desert.

No one cares. If he lied, they would care.

By the way, are they asking about arrests or convictions?

[mrskt]

I'm an adoption worker for the state of Arkansas and us it's not a huge deal... I'd mention it just for transparency purposes, but we are looking for convictions, on recent things, that might be a concern in raising a child... none of those things seem to be an issue for you guys.

Best wishes,
Katy

[babydubs5]

I had a charge of underage possession of alcohol on my background check from when I was 19. It was a stupid incident where i was the DD and I was sitting in my car opening a beer bottle for one of the people who was over 21 and the cop saw me and assumed it was mine. I was charged (not arrested, just given the ticket) no one else. Dumb mistake, it was dismissed after a year and some community service.

MY SW just asked me about it (I had disclosed it upfront, and it did come back on my fingerprints) and said OK and just laughed since it was a stupid thing I did in college.

I'd definitely disclose the incident to your SW. I'm sure it won't keep you from adopting. I'd be weary of a SW that held an indiscretion like that against you.

[cbrink7]

My husband had a conviction for criminal speeding at the age of 18, and he also had a dismissed charge for an assault (long story, but basically someone lied then admitted it), and so far it has not been a problem. It would have been however had we lied about it. We did have to submit court documents about the arrest, and a little blurb about it, and that was it.

Also talk to your SW. I spent so much time worrying about it, but come to find out it was not a big deal (easier said then done I know )...

Good Luck

[aclee]

DH had two very old incidents on his record (both were continued without a finding) both showed up on his Cori. We hadn't listed them because it was continued without a finding (and over 12 years old), so he thought it wouldn't there...it was, but they didn't really care, they just said write an explanation about that happened.

He had a background check for his job and it didn't show. I guess background checks and the cori checks they run for this are differnet...I have no idea.

[Tudu]

As they all said, be honest. My DH had a few incidents much more sever than that and b/c he was only 21 at the time, it was no big deal. We were told they were most concerned about drug related, sex crimes, or violent charges that were recent.

[kittymom]

My hubby was arrested a few years ago for speeding and charged with reckless endangerment. I was terrified this would be a problem with our adoption; it had my stomach in knots! But that was the first thing I asked our home study SW about, and the impression I got from her was that as long as its nonviolent and non-felony (this was a misdemeanor) that it wouldn't be a problem at all.

We also disclosed the arrest to our facilitator in our application, and they haven't so much as mentioned it to us.

For the home study, we have to get a disposition from the court, and DH has to write a letter taking responsibility for it and saying he won't do it again (and he won't - neither of us speeds now!).

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Just tell them he now does it in the comfort of his bedroom with the door closed. LOL. Just kidding. I know it will be embarrassing to actually have to relay his story (so make him do it ) but if you tell them first before they see it on paper it will not even be a bleep on their radar.

Oh to be young and on a back country road again........