Can a Summary Harrassment charge affect future employment background checks?

When I was 19 I through a party when my parents were out of town. Everything was going great. Then I hear this banging noise and a girl crying. I knocked on the bathroom door this girl who I didn't know opened up. Her boyfriend was beating on her.. bad.. They were fighting over she smoked all his Crack Cocaine. I did not know there was drug use going on other than alcohol. I kicked him out and drove her home. When she got home her parents were obviously very upset and called the police. 5am in the morning the police kick down my door and haul everyone 18 and over to jail. 30 days later I get out of jail and go to court. I pleaded innocent, but my Attorney told me to plead down to a lesser charge of Summary harrassment. Initial charge was aggrevated assault. He said she could get on the stand and start crying and that could be bad for everyone. So the man who beat her got 90 days in jail and I pleaded guilty to Summary harrassment. Can this interfere with future job employment?

It depends on a lot of things. First off, was the charge you plead guilty to considered a felony? If not, then many states (such as Michigan) prohibit potential employers from asking about it and you're not required to disclose it.

If it was a felony, then it could have repercussions. Yes, you have to disclose it, but you're also usually allowed to give a brief explanation. You need to find wording for that explanation that is brief, to the point, and shows that you were young and dumb and aren't going to do it again.

If it was a misdemeanor, then it depends on the state...and the wording on the application. The biggest thing I suggest to people who have been in a similar position is to make sure you read the way the questions are worded on the job application. "Have you been convicted of any crime in the last 10 years?" vs "Have you been convicted of any felony in the last 20 years? vs "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" All applications aren't alike.

Also, check with your local workforce board to see what is permissible to ask on a job application in your state. In Michigan, for instance, even if they do ask a question inappropriately, you are not obligated to answer the question correctly if they were breaking the law in asking it. Michigan says they can only inquire about felony convictions, just as they can't ask if you if are pregnant. If they ask you about misdemeanors and that's the only thing you're guilty of, then they broke the law every bit as much as if they asked if you were pregnant or contemplating getting pregnant. The proper way to answer the question in that case is "N/A".

Of course, if your field is law enforcement, then everything is on the table regardless of the level of severity. That doesn't mean you automatically won't get the job, but it does mean you will have to explain it well.

Thanks for nothing. Should of known better than to ask YAHOO anything.. bunch of YAHOO's. By the way. I got the job.. and 6 figures is sweet beeeeyaches! Report It