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Diversion Programs and Clearances

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Greg P

Junior Member
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hello, when I was 18, I received a minor in possession of alcohol ticket, completed probation, and the case was diverted. I am now 22 years old and looking for information on what I am required to divulge to employers.

My first problem is that I am looking to work as both a graduate assistant and a residential adviser for a public university. I remember my probation officer told me of several situations where I would have to reveal the sentence, and I vaguely remember employment by a school was one of the situations. I am unable to find information on the situations where this information becomes public.

My second problem is that I have a job offer to work for a private company that receives government contracts after I graduate this fall. To work for this company, I would have to obtain an "ordinary secret" clearance. Am I eligible to obtain this clearance with roughly 20 thousand in student debt from a private bank and the conviction on my record? I have no other potentially disqualifying problems that I can think of.

I thank you guys in advance for taking time out of your day to answer my questions. I also will cross post this to the sentencing section in hopes of receiving answers from a different specialty of lawyers.
 


mistoffolees

Senior Member
I can't offer legal advice on the situation, but I think I'd get an opinion from your own lawyer. There's enough at stake here that you don't want to make a mistake (the penalties for lying on a security clearance application are pretty severe). If you have a written opinion from an attorney and do something, you should be OK. It could still be wrong, but you'd be less likely to be penalized.

Relying on anonymous opinions from a board like this - where we don't have all the information - would not be considered a 'good faith' expert to comply with the regulations.

Find an attorney familiar with the issue (particularly with security clearances) and ask them for an opinion on whether you need to disclose it.
 

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