why do i need fingerprints done after case was dropped?

[lilprincess1840]

Hi, A few months ago i did something very stupid, and stole from a store. I got caught, and had to pay a civil fine. I paid the fine, and got a letter stating the case was dismissed. Now 6 months later i got a letter in the mail saying they need my fingerprints because of it .. but why, because it was dropped. Also, im going to school for early childhood and need to get my backround check and FBI fingerprints every year. The incident didn't come up on my backround check after this happened, but will it appear on both if i do in fact have to get fingerprinted? Also, how would i go about getting them removed, since it had been previously dropped prior to the letter. Thats what i dont understand .. it was dropped, so why do i need them done 6 months later after i already paid the fine. thanks !

[mcsap]

We print everybody for any offense that requires fingerprinting...but about 99% of the time it was done BEFORE the case goes anywhere.

I dont know what stste you are in but the fingerprint order was probably issued before any dismissal and still applies. If you fail to comply , they can issue a fingerprint warrant foe your arrest.

And all those who are found not guilty or have their cases dismissed do not get their prints removed from the FBI database. Once you are in , you are in for LIFE.

My prints are in from when I went in the military, in 1978.

[lilprincess1840]

This happened in SEPT 2008, and i got the paper two days ago, which is 6 months later .. i never got a letter saying i need it done until now. So if i do get fingerprinted, when i get a backround check will it come up because the case itself was dismissed?
Also, i talked to a lawyer, and he said that if the case was dismissed, ask the magistrate to drop the fingerprints because the case was already dismissed months ago, or to have a fingerprint card destroyed.

[lilprincess1840]

also, my fingerprints are also in the database because i need them done every year for school .. does that make a difference?

[Legoate]

Just curious... How hard would it be for you to contact the agency that issued you the letter and ask them?

[retdetsgt]

Also, i talked to a lawyer, and he said that if the case was dismissed, ask the magistrate to drop the fingerprints because the case was already dismissed months ago, or to have a fingerprint card destroyed.

Have you done that yet?

[pac201]

This happened in SEPT 2008, and i got the paper two days ago, which is 6 months later .. i never got a letter saying i need it done until now. So if i do get fingerprinted, when i get a backround check will it come up because the case itself was dismissed?
Also, i talked to a lawyer, and he said that if the case was dismissed, ask the magistrate to drop the fingerprints because the case was already dismissed months ago, or to have a fingerprint card destroyed.

they don't destroy fingerprint cards; your case disposition is sent to the FBI database, it will read whatever the disposition of the case is.ie; case dismissed, guilty of... or whatever the disposition is.

Lawyers will tell you any thing, especially if they think that's what you want to hear.

[Creeker]

Hi, A few months ago i did something very stupid, and stole from a store. I got caught, and had to pay a civil fine. I paid the fine, and got a letter stating the case was dismissed. ...

Are you certain it was a civil fine?

At my Agency, if you came in through Booking, you got fingerprinted.

Were you arrested and Booked into a jail?

Don't ever assume that any Government is efficient or makes sense. Government is the most inefficient animal on the planet. Remember that.

I wouldn't put it past them to put the cart in front of the horse and require your prints after the fact.

[retdetsgt]

We haven't booked first time shoplifters in decades, the jail's too full. We issue in lieu of custody citations with a court date. Neither do we have civil fines, but all that varies from state to state.

I'd contact who sent you the letter. If the case was dismissed over some sort of civil compromise, I can't see how they have the legal authority at this point. But you better check first.

If you spent the money to talk to a lawyer, you should do what he suggested.

[lilprincess1840]

I did try contacting the magistrate, which sent me the letter yesterday, but they are closed, until tuesday probably, but i will ask then.
I never went to jail or a courtdate, i just got a fine, paid it, and it was dropped supposedly .. so thats why im confused at why 6 months later, i need my fingerprints done.
Also, i didn't pay a lawyer, i just did one of those stupid things, to ask a lawyer a question online, and you can pay if you found it helpful .. but i didnt.

I read online that fingerprints are pretty much an identity thing, like to make sure you didn't say you were someone else. But im still confused .. if i get printed, does it just come up like my name and stuff, or does it say what happened? SInce this happened, i got fingerprinted for my FBI clearance for school, and it came up no record then .. so will it change after i get them done again? thanks for all the help !! I appreciate it alot!

[pac201]

[QUOTE=pac201;1011862]they don't destroy fingerprint cards; your case disposition is sent to the FBI database, it will read whatever the disposition of the case is.ie; case dismissed, guilty of... or whatever the disposition is.[/QUOTE]

re-read.

[pac201]

I did try contacting the magistrate, which sent me the letter yesterday, but they are closed, until tuesday probably, but i will ask then.
I never went to jail or a courtdate, i just got a fine, paid it, and it was dropped supposedly .. so thats why im confused at why 6 months later, i need my fingerprints done.
Also, i didn't pay a lawyer, i just did one of those stupid things, to ask a lawyer a question online, and you can pay if you found it helpful .. but i didnt.

I read online that fingerprints are pretty much an identity thing, like to make sure you didn't say you were someone else. But im still confused .. if i get printed, does it just come up like my name and stuff, or does it say what happened? SInce this happened, i got fingerprinted for my FBI clearance for school, and it came up no record then .. so will it change after i get them done again? thanks for all the help !! I appreciate it alot!

was it a fine? if it was you will have a conviction unless noted otherwise...

[lilprincess1840]

i reread what you did write a few times and still dont get it though .. because on my backround checks nothing came up yet, and i got both done after it happened.
It was a fine, then was dropped after i paid, so thats why i still dont understand.

[retdetsgt]

i reread what you did write a few times and still dont get it though .. because on my backround checks nothing came up yet, and i got both done after it happened.
It was a fine, then was dropped after i paid, so thats why i still dont understand.

Your state may have a provision for civil fines in cases like that. I think Oregon has something like that with bad checks, but I'm not sure. But since every state is different, you probably need to consult someone there who knows. We can only guess.

[retdetsgt]

[QUOTE=pac201;1011862]they don't destroy fingerprint cards; your case disposition is sent to the FBI database, it will read whatever the disposition of the case is.ie; case dismissed, guilty of... or whatever the disposition is.

I don't know if it's changed, but we didn't used to send cards on minor misdemeanors to the FBI. With all the electronic stuff that's come about since I left, we may have changed that.