Teacher Crime Defense Lawyers in Cherry Hill, NJ

To be a teacher in New Jersey, you need to pass a background check. What goes into the check, what potential crimes and/or criminal history will show up during a check, what can prohibit you from pursuing a career in teaching, and other legal and/or administrative obstacles that may be involved vary significantly from case to case. Furthermore, as a teacher, there are many challenges and risks you can face, from being falsely identified or implicated in a crime to being accused of something you didn’t do and being charged with crimes of which you are innocent. If you are a teacher, want to pursue a career in education, or have questions or concerns about your eligibility for teaching or about the teacher criminal defense process, contact the highly rated New Jersey teacher criminal defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Christopher St. John today.

Don’t face criminal charges alone – contact The Law Offices of Christopher St. John today for experienced legal representation that will fight to protect your rights.

Understanding Your Eligibility for Teaching in New Jersey Despite a Criminal Record

Many people wonder if they can still teach in New Jersey if they have been charged with a crime. To work at a New Jersey school, you will most likely need to clear a background check. Such checks are often performed by the New Jersey state police and the FBI and are used for everyone working in or with a school or similar educational facility and cover school nurses to teachers, substitutes, teaching assistants, cafeteria workers, janitorial staff, maintenance workers, school police, and other paraprofessional school employees and admin staff who frequently come into contact with children. Background checks also typically extend to members of the school board, employees of the board of education, and even contracted employees such as school bus drivers.

If you have a criminal record, you can be disqualified from being employed at a school because, as per Rev Stat § 18A:6-7.1 (2013), the New Jersey Revised Statutes on criminal record checks for public school employment and volunteering, you can be prevented from working in a school for committing certain crimes in New Jersey and/or crimes of a similar or equivalent nature in other jurisdictions.

Despite this, even if you have a criminal record, our dedicated teacher crime defense lawyerin Haddonfield, NJ can potentially help you overcome such challenges. For example, we can help you challenge the accuracy of charges that appear during a background check, and employment dates and crime dates – as well as the dates of completed sentences and other penalties – also come into play. Our knowledgeable New Jersey teacher criminal defense attorneys will review your case and gather the evidence needed to put forth a strong case for consideration and/or the dismissal of charges on your record so that you can confidently apply to school employment opportunities of your choice.

Take control of your defense – schedule a confidential consultation with The Law Offices of Christopher St. John’s experienced criminal defense team to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

Crimes that Can Disqualify You from School Employment in New Jersey

You will be ineligible for employment at a school in New Jersey if you have a first- or second-degree felony – otherwise known as an indictable offense in New Jersey – on your record. Examples of such crimes include murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, and serious and/or violent crimes of a similar nature. You can also be permanently disqualified from obtaining employment at a school if you have been convicted of endangering the welfare of a child or that of an incompetent individual even if they are not minors. Various drug crimes, dangerous controlled substance usage, kidnapping, arson, and other serious crimes can also prevent you from being employed at a school.

Lose Your Teaching Job After an Arrest in New Jersey

Does this mean you will necessarily lose your job at a school after an arrest in New Jersey? Not always. In most cases, you must consult with experienced New Jersey teacher criminal defense attorneys to understand the specific rules that apply for reporting your arrest and any related incidents so that your matter can be decided appropriately. In many cases, the school or your employer will ask for some form of proof that your case or the matter at hand was resolved. For example, if you were charged with DWI or a disorderly persons offense (except domestic violence, and unless you are a bus driver), New Jersey law does not require you to be fired.

Beyond proving to your employer or a potential employer that your criminal record is inaccurate or that charges or convictions appearing on your record have been satisfactorily resolved, we can help you obtain an expungement so that you can pursue teaching opportunities without any impediments. To learn more so that we can investigate your case and guide you to the best path forward, contact our teacher crime defense lawyerin Haddonfield, NJ today.