Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

Disorderly Conduct Summary Offense- Background Checks

I recently pled guilty to a Summary Offense Disorderly Conduct because I didn't want to deal with fighting such a small offense. Now I'm questioning my decision.

A) Does this show up on a background check?

B) Is a S1 Disorderly Conduct a criminal charge?

C) I want to apply to graduate school of some sort and if it asks ''Have you ever, either as an adult or a juvenile, been convicted of a crime, or is any charge now

pending against you? (This should include matters that have been expunged.)'' does that mean I have to tell them about the S1 offense?

My citation was issued on 2/7/08 and filed on 2/12/08. I ran a PATCH background check on myself yesterday (3/5/08) and said no record? Does that mean I don't have a criminal record?

Please help. I wanted to apply to Law School and don't know how much this will hurt my chances.

Thanks,


Asked on 3/06/08, 9:06 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
John Gibson John W. Gibson, Esquire

Re: Disorderly Conduct Summary Offense- Background Checks

Summary Offenses do not show up in criminal records but the dockets are matters of public record. A problem that I've ran into lately is that some "investigators" are using the state's UJS portal for checks and that does show the summary offenses. But that shouldn't have any effect on anything that you're concerned with.

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Answered on 3/06/08, 9:28 am
Mark Johns Mark Johns, Esquire

Re: Disorderly Conduct Summary Offense- Background Checks

By statutory definition a summary offense is not criminal in Pennsylvania. However, it would be prudent to disclose it on a law school and bar application.

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Answered on 3/06/08, 9:29 am


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