What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
I live in Los Angeles California. I have no previous convictions for any drug charges and no felony convictions on my record. I was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
I am being offered two options:
DEJ - Deferred Judgment. I must plead guilty, complete a program and stay out of trouble for 18 months. After 18 months the case will be dismissed.
Drug Court - This is a pre-plea program where there is no guilty conviction. I must undergo intensive programs and stay out of trouble for a year. After a year the case is dismissed.
Issues: I was laid off from a managerial job in September. I was arrested in October. I am currently looking for work.
Drug Court is the most appealing since there is no conviction, however, the first three months are so intensive that I will not be able to work or even look for a job. Because of this I would rather take DEJ unless the conviction will be detrimental to my job search.
Questions:
1) Completion of Drug Court and DEJ both result in dismissals. Are there differences in the way this will show on a background check? (i.e. Will they both say "dismissed" or will the DEJ option show the conviction?)
2) If I chose DEJ, will the felony show up during the 18 months of the program? It is my understanding that a felony conviction check will only yield those in which sentencing has been imposed.
I live in Los Angeles California. I have no previous convictions for any drug charges and no felony convictions on my record. I was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
I am being offered two options:
DEJ - Deferred Judgment. I must plead guilty, complete a program and stay out of trouble for 18 months. After 18 months the case will be dismissed.
Drug Court - This is a pre-plea program where there is no guilty conviction. I must undergo intensive programs and stay out of trouble for a year. After a year the case is dismissed.
Issues: I was laid off from a managerial job in September. I was arrested in October. I am currently looking for work.
Drug Court is the most appealing since there is no conviction, however, the first three months are so intensive that I will not be able to work or even look for a job. Because of this I would rather take DEJ unless the conviction will be detrimental to my job search.
Questions:
1) Completion of Drug Court and DEJ both result in dismissals. Are there differences in the way this will show on a background check? (i.e. Will they both say "dismissed" or will the DEJ option show the conviction?)
2) If I chose DEJ, will the felony show up during the 18 months of the program? It is my understanding that a felony conviction check will only yield those in which sentencing has been imposed.