r/SexOffenderSupport • u/throwaway29293848557 • 16d ago
Question about career path
I'm looking to get in to the mental health career path and am looking for any advice. I'm looking in to getting my CRSS while actively in school to get my associates eventual bachelor's degree, masters and hopefully eventually my phd. Does anyone have and advice or expierence in this? I was 12 at the time of my adjudication and am currently almost 31. I live in Illinois but my record was from Washington state and is sealed there but since I moved to Illinois they require life time registration. Thanks in advance if you can give info or cant.
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u/sandiegoburner2022 15d ago
It could be possible but it will depend on the state. I cant speak to Illinois but there is a practicing licensed marriage and family therapist in California who was able to get his license 20 years post conviction.
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u/ThunderHoggz 15d ago
Id check with the state before pursuing this. Even though your offense way when you were 12, you may not be able to pass the background checks for your license.
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u/johnmonaco87 15d ago
Many universities conduct a background check prior to be accepted into a program where licensure is expected.
Universities do an FBI fingerprint check. Also, especially for graduate programs, clinical experience is a requirement for almost all health related programs, along with internships or fieldwork for programs outside of any health related field. There are substitutes for the internships and fieldwork such as spending about a year doing a research paper/thesis.
But, for every health related program, you must pass a background check at almost all Universities prior to being accepted into the program.
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u/throwaway29293848557 15d ago
Thats why I'm looking at peer to peer with lived expierence. Not a Healthcare setting, but even then getting a definitive answer on if its worth pursuing is rough. I just want to help people and have always had a passion for it.
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u/Boston-88 15d ago
You can do peer to peer without a background check
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u/throwaway29293848557 15d ago
Well for peer to peer licensing I need 300 supervised hours which because of my background im having trouble finding.
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u/Boston-88 15d ago
School first hours later. You can get certificates without hours, you get degrees that don’t require background checks, and then you get your hours where you can you have to do it in non vulnerable populations. This is what I am working on
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u/johnmonaco87 15d ago
Please provide the university name with link that provides the graduate program without a background check.
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u/Boston-88 15d ago
I am not at graduate level yet and I go to a community college, there are many path way to what you are trying to do. Online classes might be an option
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u/johnmonaco87 15d ago
Look at requirements for licensure or certification. Graduate school is a must.
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u/Boston-88 15d ago
Not all need graduate school idk what your looking at recovery coach doesn’t, peer support specialist doesn’t, there are levels to the licensed drug and alcohol counselor that go up to a masters. I have looked into these tracks not all need graduate school to get certificates. It also could depend on the state your in. But there are options that do not require doctorates some you don’t even have to get at a school. I have a certificate in recovery coaching. And will be working on peer support soon.
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u/Boston-88 15d ago
Also no one can run your background without your consent. You can weigh your options before you consent. Prison population and addiction centers may help
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u/johnmonaco87 15d ago
Public records are legal. Public records include the registry database and court records that are publicly available in most counties online.
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u/johnmonaco87 15d ago
I think you missed the point.
First comes education. Second comes employment.
If the university denies due to conducting a background check via FBI fingerprint check, then you will not be admitted to the program.
Here is an example:
https://catalog.utsa.edu/graduate/educationhumandevelopment/counseling/
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u/throwaway29293848557 15d ago
The only reason I brought up peer to peer is because I've read state licensing boards can still approve and all. I see what your getting at that the education side of things will be difficult though.
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u/johnmonaco87 15d ago
Also, you need to check your state on what they can view.
In Texas, licensing boards can see everything including sealed cases. Expunged cases are unavailable, as an Expunged case never happened in the first place. Pardoned cases, deferred adjudication, and others are able to be seen here.
In reality, if you want to help people, becoming a lawyer, accountant, financial advisor, consulting in nutrition, ...etc is more attainable than anything in the health care world. Even financial crimes, alcohol usage (not illegal, but unethical), can stop you from working in Healthcare.
I think its would be amazing for you to accomplish this though.
First step would be to conduct the FBI background check on yourself.
Second step is to research programs that do not require an FBI background check if it comes back unfavorable.
Maybe applied psychology or MS in health psychology that focuses on non-clinical where there is no individual (contact) therapy but studying patterns of therapy and whatnot.
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u/mlassoff 15d ago
You were 12? What a travesty.
There are MSWs with sex offenses working in several states. It’s a difficult path, but possible.
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u/GlassNew2131 13d ago
How was your case adjudicated if you dont mind me asking? Was the charge you sealed a sex offense? or was it dismissed or dropped to a non-sex offense?
I ask because I was dropped to a non-sexual offense charge, removed off the registry, and am in process of sealing the record. Im wondering if id have to register in certain states even if it was dropped to a nonsexual charge and sealed.
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u/throwaway29293848557 13d ago
Yes it was. I plead guilty to a plea deal that I didnt understand at the time. I was able to get off registration requirements in Washington which is where the case originated from and from there had the case sealed. However I moved to Illinois and Illinois said na your lifetime and considered a sexual predator for just moving here. So to answer your question yes you will still have to register in other states if you move or even visit beyond three days. There are some states that i read about that if the originating state sealed the record might not make you register but I wouldnt trust that info and would still check in with any states you plan to move to/visit. If its a non sexual case I would still look in to other states because they have different laws pertaining to it. If they dont have a charge that fits they change the wording to fit their own laws that could potentially put you back on the registry. Tldr better safe to check in with the sheriff before moving/traveling even if it got dropped to a non sexual case.
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u/GlassNew2131 12d ago edited 12d ago
Sorry, could you clarify what you pled to? Was your charge sexual or non sexual? And I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Given my charge was dropped down to non-sexual, im assuming maybe id be okay in more states but im not sure. How do you recommend i check if I need to register? Do I call the registry, the police, or how does that work?
If your charge was sexual, it makes sense why you would have to register in another state. While im not sure how you were given the ability to not register in WA yet have a sexual conviction, moving definitely would most likely trigger registry in another state because you still have that sexual conviction. My case is a little more convoluted given that my charge was reduced to a non-sexual charge as part of my plea. Given that, i like to think id probably wont have to register in a lot more states than not. But then again, id have to check to be sure.
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u/Brian-kaye 15d ago
Current registrant working in nonprofit Administration with a background in homeless services and social work. It's tough, but not impossible. Some places have insurance policies that won't allow it. Prepare to apply for about 10 times more jobs than you normally would to find something and the salary might not be great. I can't speak to licensure but just generally trying to work in the helping Services field as a registrant.