The Commission on Teacher Credentialing may revoke or suspend a teacher’s credentials.
One of the consequences of committing a crime is that it may impact your job. For some people, like those who drive for a living, that may mean not being able to work for a period of time if they lose their license due to a DUI. For others, such as those who hold a professional license, it could mean even more serious consequences if the professional board that accredits or licenses them decides to revoke or suspend them based on criminal charges against them. Such is the case with teachers.
In California, teachers are both licensed and regulated by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This government agency reviews teacher discipline cases through the Committee on Credentials, which includes cases involving criminal convictions. The Committee then makes recommendations on whether a teacher’s credentials should be denied, revoked suspended based on a criminal conviction.
As an experienced Orange County defense lawyer can tell you, a wide range of criminal convictions can lead to review by the Committee on Credentials. While some of these convictions are obvious — such as child abuse — others may not be. Certain convictions require an automatic suspension or revocation of a teacher’s license or credentials, such as sex offenses, drug offenses, violent or serious offenses (like murder or rape), or any convictions that have probation terms that limit contact with minors. Other convictions can result in discipline by the Committee if it determines that the teacher is somehow unfit based on a number of factors, such as the impact of the conduct on the students, the publicity given to the conduct, the likelihood of recurrence, type of credential at issue and any extenuating or aggravating circumstances. DUI cases may result in discipline under these factors, particularly if they involve repeat DUIs that require a teacher to wear a court-ordered ankle bracelet, as it would impact the students since the students could see the bracelet and would potentially be influenced by it.
Ultimately, if the conviction does not involve an offense that results in an automatic suspension or revocation, a teacher can and should engage an Orange County defense lawyer to fight for his or her right to retain his or her teaching credentials. A skilled attorney can present a strong defense to the Committee and argue against revocation or suspension of teaching credentials, particularly if the conviction in question will not have any impact on your ability to teach.
Of course, you can avoid the involvement of the Committee by hiring a top-notch Orange County defense lawyer to defend you against the criminal charges and obtaining the best possible outcome to the criminal charges. At the Chambers Law Firm, we will aggressively defend you against criminal charges. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation.
