One arrest in Rhode Island can put your entire professional license at risk, even before a judge ever says the word “guilty.” If you are a nurse, teacher, or other licensed professional, a felony charge does not just threaten your record, it can threaten the career you worked years to build. That is why the decisions you make in the first days and weeks after an arrest matter far more than most people realize.
By the time many professionals reach my office, they have already heard different advice from HR, colleagues, or online forums. Some are told not to worry unless they are actually convicted. Others are told to report everything immediately, in writing, with no guidance on how that might affect the criminal case. Both extremes can be dangerous. You deserve clear, Rhode Island-specific information about how a felony case and your license really interact.
I have spent more than 12 years handling criminal cases in courts across Rhode Island, including representing many licensed professionals and students whose futures depended on how a felony was handled. I have seen how quickly a board can react to an arrest, and how the right strategy in the criminal case can change what a board sees and how it responds. In this article, I will walk you through what I want every licensed client to understand at the very beginning, so you can make informed choices before you take a plea or answer a single licensing question.
Why Felony Charges Put Rhode Island Professional Licenses At Risk
A felony in Rhode Island is an offense that carries a potential sentence of more than one year. That label alone sends a signal to licensing boards that the state views the charge as serious. For nurses, teachers, and other license holders, the risk starts the moment a felony charge is filed in court, not only if there is a conviction. Some boards are allowed to act on an arrest or pending charge because they see their role as protecting patients, students, or the public while a case is still unfolding.
There are several layers to worry about. The criminal court decides guilt, innocence, and sentencing. Separate agencies and boards control your license. For example, nursing licenses in Rhode Island are regulated through the Department of Health, and teaching credentials involve state education authorities and local school districts. Each board has its own rules about what must be reported, when, and what type of conduct can trigger discipline. None of that changes the criminal case, but it can absolutely change your ability to keep working.
Even if you never say a word to your board or employer, your felony case does not live in a vacuum. Criminal cases in Rhode Island generate court records that are generally public. The Attorney General’s office and the courts maintain information that can show up when a background check is run. A Bureau of Criminal Identification report, often called a BCI, can show pending charges as well as convictions. Employers, schools, and boards often rely heavily on these records when they decide whether to hire you, renew your license, or open an investigation.
In my work in Rhode Island courts, I see how quickly a new felony can find its way from the courtroom to an employer’s HR department or licensing board. Sometimes a board letter arrives at a client’s home before the client fully understands the charge itself. When I defend licensed professionals, I am always thinking two tracks at once, the criminal case and the collateral impact on their license, because ignoring either one can be costly.
How A Felony Conviction Affects Your Rhode Island Record
Many professionals first truly grasp the seriousness of a felony case when they see what appears on a BCI. In Rhode Island, a BCI is an official report of your criminal history that typically includes pending charges, dispositions, and convictions from Rhode Island courts. Employers, hospitals, schools, and licensing boards commonly request or require a BCI as part of hiring, credentialing, or renewal. When a felony is on that report, it rarely goes unnoticed.
The exact outcome of your case makes a huge difference. A felony conviction after trial is one thing. A felony that is amended down to a misdemeanor is another. A charge that is dismissed, or a case that is filed and later closed without a conviction, looks different again. Each of these outcomes may still appear on some version of a record, but they carry very different weight in the eyes of a licensing board that is trying to decide if you present an ongoing risk.
A dismissal usually shows that the charge did not result in a conviction. That can be helpful when a board is deciding whether the incident reflects on your current fitness to practice. A filing, which is a type of conditional dismissal the court can use, can sometimes avoid an immediate conviction if you comply with conditions. An amendment from a felony to a misdemeanor may stop the case from being labeled a felony on your BCI, which can be critical for boards that draw hard lines around felonies. A deferred sentence or probation with adjudication can still be viewed as a conviction and may trigger more serious board concern.
One detail that surprises many professionals is how broad some application and renewal questions are. Forms may ask “Have you ever been arrested?” or “Have you ever been charged, pled guilty, or pled nolo contendere to any crime?” Some forms specifically tell you to disclose matters that have been expunged or sealed. That means relying on expungement alone to erase a felony case from your licensing prospects can be risky. When I review cases with clients, we look not only at avoiding jail, but also at how different possible dispositions will read on a BCI and on the kinds of forms their board or employer will put in front of them.
How A Felony Can Affect Nurses, Teachers, And Other Licensed Professionals
Not every board looks at every felony the same way. The impact depends on the type of license you hold and the nature of the offense. For nurses in Rhode Island, boards often focus on patient safety, controlled substances, and honesty. A nurse charged with a felony drug offense involving prescription medications may face concerns about diversion and access to narcotics. A theft-related felony from the workplace can raise questions about trust in handling medications, equipment, or patient property. A felony assault that occurred off duty can still be viewed as a sign of potential risk in a high-stress healthcare environment.
For teachers and school employees, boards and employers are particularly sensitive to crimes involving violence, children, or sexual conduct. A felony that alleges harm to a minor, even outside of school, can trigger immediate administrative action, including paid or unpaid leave, pending the outcome of the criminal case. A felony assault or domestic violence incident can also raise concerns about a teacher’s judgment and ability to manage conflicts appropriately. Even when the alleged victim is an adult, schools and districts often take a very cautious approach when children are involved in any way.
Other licensed professionals face their own sets of concerns. Tradespeople who need state licenses, such as electricians or plumbers, may see boards focus on public safety and compliance with laws. Real estate licensees can face scrutiny for felonies involving dishonesty, fraud, or financial misconduct, because their work often involves handling money and advising clients on significant transactions. Emergency medical providers may face intense review over any felony that suggests impaired judgment, substance abuse, or disregard for protocols, since they work in high-stakes environments where seconds matter.
In my practice, I have represented professionals across these fields who were shocked at how quickly their board or employer reacted to news of a felony charge. Some received letters asking for certified copies of court documents and a written explanation before the criminal case was even resolved. Others saw internal investigations open immediately. The common thread is that boards look not only at the legal name of the offense, but also at what the facts suggest about risk, judgment, and honesty. Understanding this perspective allows us to build a defense that takes the board’s likely concerns into account from the very beginning.
Reporting Duties And Board Investigations After A Felony Arrest
Many professionals do not realize they have reporting duties until it is almost too late. Some Rhode Island boards require licensees to report arrests, charges, or convictions within a short period of time. Employers, especially large healthcare systems or school districts, often have their own policies that require immediate notification of any criminal matter. Ignoring these rules can lead to discipline for failure to report, sometimes more severe than the discipline for the underlying conduct itself.
Once a board learns of a felony case, a typical response may include a letter requesting information, an order to produce records, or a notice of investigation. The board may ask for copies of the criminal complaint, police reports, or court dispositions. It might require you to submit a written explanation of what happened and sometimes to appear at a hearing. In more serious cases, or when the allegations directly relate to patient or student safety, a board may consider an immediate suspension or other temporary restriction while the investigation continues.
The biggest risk I see is that professionals rush to respond on their own. They feel pressure to tell their side of the story to the board, to HR, or to an investigator, often in writing or in a recorded interview. Those statements can later be reviewed by prosecutors or used to challenge your credibility in court. Details that might seem minor in a board setting can have major legal consequences in a criminal case. Once something is in writing, it is very hard to walk it back.
When I represent licensed clients, part of my work is helping them decide what to say, when to say it, and in what forum. Sometimes the right move is to ask the board for more time to respond while we address key issues in the criminal case. Other times, we may provide carefully framed information that protects the client’s rights in both arenas. The key is to understand that the criminal case and the board matter run in parallel, and a misstep in one can ripple into the other.
Common Mistakes Professionals Make After A Felony Charge
When your career feels like it is hanging by a thread, it is natural to want the criminal case over as fast as possible. One of the most common mistakes I see is a professional pleading quickly to a felony simply to move on, without truly understanding how that plea will appear on a BCI or how their board is likely to react. A conviction that avoids jail can still trigger a board investigation, discipline, or even revocation, especially when the offense touches on honesty, violence, or substance abuse.
Another frequent problem is talking too much, too soon, to the wrong people. Well-meaning professionals sit down with HR, a supervisor, or a board investigator and walk through the entire incident in detail, hoping that openness will protect them. They may sign statements or fill out incident reports without realizing that every word could later be examined by prosecutors, judges, or board members. In some cases, the version of events in those statements becomes more damaging than the original police report.
Failing to report when required is also a major trap. Some professionals decide to wait and see if anyone finds out about the felony case, especially if they believe the charges are exaggerated or likely to be dismissed. If the board or employer later discovers both the case and the fact that it was never disclosed, the focus can shift from the underlying conduct to the perceived dishonesty. I have seen situations where the failure to disclose mattered more to the decision makers than the allegation itself.
These problems are avoidable with early guidance. I sometimes meet clients after they have already made one or more of these missteps, and we then have to spend time repairing damage that did not have to occur. If I can talk to a professional soon after the arrest, we can usually slow things down, look at their board rules and employment contracts, and plan responses that protect their rights in both the criminal and licensing arenas.
Legal Strategies To Protect Your License While Fighting A Felony In Rhode Island
Protecting your license starts with how the felony case itself is handled. One key strategy is to look for ways to resolve the case that avoid a felony conviction when the facts and circumstances allow. In some situations, it may be possible to negotiate a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor. That change alone can make a significant difference in how a BCI looks and how a board or employer interprets your record. Boards often treat felonies as a separate category of concern.
In other cases, a dismissal or a filing may be realistic options. A straight dismissal means the charge does not result in a conviction, which is usually far better when a board reviews your history. A filing, which is a case the court holds open for a period of time before closing it if you meet certain conditions, can sometimes prevent an immediate conviction from appearing. Each of these tools has limits and tradeoffs, and they are not available in every case, but they are worth exploring with a Rhode Island criminal defense attorney who understands licensing consequences.
Beyond charge reductions or dismissals, the specific offense you plead to can also matter. Boards often distinguish between crimes involving dishonesty, such as theft or fraud, and other types of conduct. They may view a substance related offense differently if you can show active treatment and a sustained recovery plan. As your attorney, I look for resolutions that are not only fair in the criminal sense, but also minimize the collateral damage to your license by avoiding certain statutory labels when possible.
Documenting rehabilitation is another important part of protecting a license, especially in cases involving drugs or alcohol. Completing an appropriate treatment program, counseling, or monitoring, and having solid documentation, can make a significant difference when presenting your case to a board. It shows that you recognize the issue and are taking concrete steps to address it. In my work with licensed clients, we often think ahead about the story we will need to tell a board months down the road and start building that record early.
Because I practice in Rhode Island courts every day, I am familiar with how local prosecutors and judges tend to view different offenses and what they may consider when we explain the licensing stakes. When I negotiate, I make sure decision makers understand that a particular felony outcome may not just be about a record, it may be about whether a nurse can continue to care for patients or whether a teacher can remain in the classroom. That context does not guarantee a specific result, but it can influence how flexible the other side is willing to be.
What To Do Right Now If You Hold Or Plan To Hold A Professional License
If you have been arrested or charged with a felony in Rhode Island and you hold a professional license, the first step is to pause before you put anything in writing or speak in detail to your employer, board, or school. Gather your licensing documents, any board correspondence you have already received, and any employment policies you are subject to. If you can obtain a copy of your current BCI, that can also be helpful, so we can see what is already on your record and how a new case might appear.
For students and applicants, the stakes are similar. An old felony on your record or a pending case can affect whether you are admitted to a program, allowed to do clinical rotations, or granted a license after graduation. Before you fill out applications that ask about your criminal history, it often makes sense to review your situation with a Rhode Island criminal defense attorney who understands how boards read those answers. That way, you can plan how to disclose the information honestly while also presenting context and evidence of rehabilitation when appropriate.
The most important thing you can do is speak with a criminal defense attorney who looks at your case through the lens of both court and career. At The Law Office of Thomas C. Thomasian, Esq., I work with licensed professionals and students to coordinate their criminal defense strategy with their licensing concerns. Because board deadlines and employer questions can come up at any time, my office is available 24/7 to start reviewing your situation, answering your questions, and helping you decide on your next steps before you make a decision that is hard to undo.
Protect Your License & Your Future With Informed Legal Guidance
A felony charge in Rhode Island is not just a legal problem in the courtroom. It is a direct threat to your ability to practice, to support your family, and to move forward in the profession you chose. The good news is that you are not powerless. The way your case is handled, the timing of key decisions, and the way you communicate with boards and employers can all change what happens next, especially when those choices are made with a clear strategy in mind.
Every license, every board, and every case is different. No article can tell you exactly what to do in your situation, but it can show you how much is at stake and how much can still be protected with the right approach. If you are facing a felony charge or conviction and you hold or hope to hold a professional license in Rhode Island, I invite you to contact The Law Office of Thomas C. Thomasian, Esq. online or call us at (401) 312-4385 to talk directly with me about your options and how we can work to protect both your record and your career.