How Drunk or Disorderly Conduct Can Limit Your Job Prospects
Sept. 29, 2017
According to a researcher with the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ), at least 33 percent of all American adults have an arrest record by the time they turn 23.
The USDOJ conducted a study in 2012 to gain a better understanding as to what impact, if any, criminal convictions had on an individual's job prospects. What they found is that even those with misdemeanor convictions on their record may face difficulties in securing gainful employment.
When asked about these findings, one human resources manager noted that while many applicants may initially get offered a job based on their stated qualifications, they're often rescinded after a background check. Job offers are generally withdrawn from prospective employees in cases such as this not just because they've been convicted, but because they failed to disclose it.
He notes that employers are generally willing to overlook some criminal offenses if they're disclosed and were an isolated incident. This even includes arrests for public intoxication or underage drinking. In general, employers are much less likely to overlook a record that shows you're a habitual or violent offender.
A spokesperson with the HIRE Network, an organization that helps criminals land jobs, also has weighed in on this issue. In was noted that, through experience gained in talking with employers, many employers see a prospective employee's criminal record as a liability. This seems to be the case regardless of whether the offense in question was a felony or misdemeanor.
This cultural perception of those with criminal records is why many job seekers often seek an expungement. This can allow their criminal record to be wiped clean, although certain conditions must be met to qualify. Processing an expungement is not quick either. Instead, it takes several months to be processed. Whether an expungement request gets approved is left up to the discretion of a judge.
If you've been charged with underage intoxicated driving, drunk or disorderly conduct or some other type of alcohol-related offense, your life stands to be forever altered if you end up being convicted for it. A criminal defense attorney can advise you of how a conviction can limit your job prospects for the future.
Source: Collegiate Times, "Misdemeanors affect job prospects, study shows," Sean Hayden, accessed Sep. 29, 2017