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Warning to New York Teachers: Potential Career Ending Consequences for Criminal Convictions

The New York criminal lawyers and former Manhattan prosecutors at Saland Law PC have represented all types of professionals from teachers to physicians and lawyers to architects in criminal investigations and arrests. Our criminal attorneys have represented these professionals in arrests ranging from Petit Larceny Shoplifting (NY PL 155.25) and Theft of Services (NY PL 165.15) to Assault (NY PL 120.00) and felony Grand Larceny (NY PL 155.35). Because these professionals don’t merely have their criminal case to be concerned about, our New York criminal defense attorneys at Saland Law PC routinely discuss the collateral consequence of an arrest and conviction with these clients. Now, according to reports, there may be an additional and grave concern for teachers arrested or given a Desk Appearance Ticket for any criminal charge ranging from Criminal Possession of Stolen Property (NY PL 165.40) to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (NY PL 220.03).

According to reports, a New York State Senator has proposed legislation that will have dire consequences for teachers convicted of any crime (misdemeanor or felony). Regardless of any of our personal beliefs on the value of the tenure system or whether we believe the United Federation of Teachers serves themselves or students first, the bill in the New York State Senate appears to give a mayor of New York City the ability to terminate teachers convicted of crimes. According to one report, there are in excess of 500 teachers that still hold their jobs despite the fact that they have been convicted of a crime. While I have not read the bill, reports appear to indicate that Mayor Bloomberg, and his successors, would have the ability to dismiss these and future teachers convicted of crimes.

Whether or not this bill ultimately becomes law in New York State, teachers should be on notice. If you are arrested for any crime, even if it was something as “insignificant” as using a student’s or a senior citizen’s MetroCard to swipe at a turnstile, you need to take the appropriate steps to not only resolve the criminal case, but to protect your livelihood and future.

For further reading on Desk Appearance Tickets (DATs) in New York, Theft of Services, Assault, Shoplifting, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Grand Larceny, please follow the highlighted links above for the applicable section of the Saland Law PC website. For additional information on these crimes (and others) including, analysis of legal decisions and statutes, review the New York Criminal Lawyer Blog where you can search for the specific terms or go to more generalized sections of the criminal law.

The New York criminal defense attorneys at Saland Law PC represent the accused in criminal investigations, arrests and trials throughout the New York City region. Before starting the criminal defense firm, both founding members served as prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

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