Gave Cops Fake Information

[invista111]

What is the name of your state? Tennessee

I was arrested in Memphis for a charge which was later dropped, but ended up with a midemeanor charge for resisting arrest ... I was over 18, and that was 4 years ago. The judge denied me diversion despite the fact it was my first offense ... I served my time, paid all fines and completed my probation sucessfully.

When I was booked, I provided a fake DOB and SSN. I am confident that the situation which lead to my arrest will happen again, I have learned my lesson, but still concerned about providing fake information. I realize that if I got caught then, I would have been charged with criminal impersonation ... can this charge come to haunt me someday? I did not provide fake IDs, just verbal .... which is hard for them to prove. What should I do?

My biggest concern is if I get finger printed again, for any reason ... not necesserly from an arrest .... say for getting a security clearence ....

Bottom line is that I have been real good since and I appreciated good advice.

 

[CdwJava]

You will have a problem if they ever have to print you again for any reason ... work, security clearance, booking, etc. THEN your crime will coem to light. Chances are goo that you will have to answer for it in some way. But, it may not be severe, and you may not even be charged criminally. Only time will tell.

- Carl

 

[outonbail]

Yep, those dang new computer gizmo's. Criminals don't have a chance anymore when it comes to fingerprints. Used to be that matching a print had to be done by a flesh and blood with good eyesight. Which also relied heavily on the person taking the prints doing it correctly to begin with. No smears, half prints too much ink, too little. There was all kinds of room for human error.

Not anymore. If your prints have been added and are on file in this new system, you will be identified by every name ever on file with your fingerprints. Once your real name is confirmed, all the other names will then be cross referenced as your alias's.

Between the speed of identification checks using computers and DNA, being a criminal without getting caught, gets tougher every day. That old saying, "Crime doesn't pay", is becoming closer to the truth as time goes on.


Carl, have you ever run into a situation or even heard of one, where two separate subjects have similar enough prints, where they would both come up when either is ran through the system? Just curious if it happens.

 

[CdwJava]

Carl, have you ever run into a situation or even heard of one, where two separate subjects have similar enough prints, where they would both come up when either is ran through the system? Just curious if it happens.

No. Though there are a number of situations where a set of prints or partials can come up with more than one "possible" hit. Though on hand analysis they can be screened.

- Carl

 

[invista111]

Exactly right. Now I have the option of giving old alias SS Number and DOB and get hammered as a person with a criminal history, or give my real data, answer to the descripancy, then have my record and AKA consolidated.

A criminal record would have totally wiped my career out, I need to research the link between a Security Clearence and courts ..... because I understand that the prpose of a security clearence is to determin if the candidate is truthful and forward with the government, with a good character ..... not necesserily an angle.

If I use the old SS Number and DOB again, would I be committing criminal impersonation? as far as police is concerned, this is my de facto record with them .... my question is: do fingerprints get compared against the database whenever added, or is that only done when investigating a case?

 

[CdwJava]

If you get printed for a clearance and they run the prints through the same databas(s) that your previous prints were entered into, then it will come back with a match on the phone name and info. This will create problems. It would certainly put a red light into any background process for a clearance.

My recommendation would be to consult an attorney as to the best way to go about changing the data on record to the real stuff. Otherwise, your only real option is never to get arrested or apply for a job that requires a background check.

- Carl

 

[Happy Trails]

http://www.tncrimlaw.com/TPI_Crim/24_01.htm

 

[invista111]

All true except for CdwJava's comment about running a background check. I had 3 background checks since then, and none came up under the actual data. I guess the only time that will come to light is if the finger prints were checked, not just taken.

Also, the Statute of Limitations may have run out after 5 years or so. My thought is that if I am known to police with that data, then might as well identify myself with it ... THEY have the proof that I am that person, even if I deny it. I just want to make htings easy for all.

 

[CdwJava]

All true except for CdwJava's comment about running a background check. I had 3 background checks since then, and none came up under the actual data. I guess the only time that will come to light is if the finger prints were checked, not just taken.

That's exactly what I said. I don't know where you get that what I wrote was not true.

Since the only way to verify the false data would be with fingerprints, any background that required a print verification would come across the phony ID ... unless the agency performing the check is pretty slipshod. If the background was NOT used with prints, and only with provided data, then it would - of course - not match the false data used on the prior booking.

Also, the Statute of Limitations may have run out after 5 years or so. My thought is that if I am known to police with that data, then might as well identify myself with it ... THEY have the proof that I am that person, even if I deny it. I just want to make htings easy for all.

The SOL likely wouldn't begin to run until the crime was discovered. So don't count on the SOL to necessarily keep you out of trouble.

Hence, my advice to seek an attorney as to how to consolidate the information so it does NOT come back to bite you some day.

And I am simply amazed that nobody caught the fact that the name and DOB you provided did not match any form of ID you possessed. The capability of the local law enforcement agencies and justice system in your neck of the woods is not impressive if they allowed your entire probation to pass without ever catching this error or verifying the data in some way!

- Carl

 

[invista111]

True, Carl. I am amazed that some states give you the option of not including your SS Number on your DL. In my case, the officer just asked me for the info while he was filling the report. Same happened at the booking station.

The information I got is that when a regular arrest or security clearence is conducted, the finger prints are just deposited into the system ... which is different then being RUN. However, there are levels of security clearence where the prints are run for comparison.

At this point, my conclusion is stay as much as I can from trouble. There are people who live a lifetime without getting fingerprinted once.

 

[CdwJava]

True, Carl. I am amazed that some states give you the option of not including your SS Number on your DL.

Because federal law makes it unlawful to use this information for purposes other than its intended purpose. Those few states that DID include the SSN on the DL have since gone away from it.

In my case, the officer just asked me for the info while he was filling the report. Same happened at the booking station.

That's all we can do. Additionally, there is no easy way to match up a SSN with an individual - hence the reason it is not considered a valid form of ID anywhere. For the most part, it's inclusion in criminal records is made by voluntary contribution by the suspect, or, by the discovery of a SSN card in the suspect's wallet.

The information I got is that when a regular arrest or security clearence is conducted, the finger prints are just deposited into the system ... which is different then being RUN.

Very poor system. You could easily be a convicted felon or a spy and they would never know it.

Please tell me this is not for a government operation!

However, there are levels of security clearence where the prints are run for comparison.

I would hope so.

At this point, my conclusion is stay as much as I can from trouble. There are people who live a lifetime without getting fingerprinted once.

If I had not taught, worked with kids, or become a cop I could have managed that. But, I have been printed frequently since the age of 18 for work.

- Carl

 

[invista111]

The background checks were done for regular employment, not government agencies.

As for the security clearence, first level invlves a background check only (without fingerprinting), second involves thorough background check (including finger printing) and interviews with immediate friends and neighbours. The third involves extensive record review, more thorough than a homocide case.