Drug charge

[Futureresq]

My story is this: I'm an EMT-B in Paramedic school. I want to get involved in Firefighting and Technical Rescue. Only problem is, back in November, I got a Class B misdemeanor for Possession of Marijuana. It was an isolated charge; my record is clean except for that. Right now, I am on something called "Pretrial Deferment." It is basically low carb-probation. If behave for a year, I don't go to trail or get a conviction. I will just have an arrest and Charge. I'm going to be staying around town for a few years and getting my education before I apply for a job with an FD, so I will have some space between me and the charge. My questions are:

1. I have heard that most departments only really care about DUIs and other felonies. I don't know if I buy that... How negatively will a misdemeanor drug charge without a conviction effect me?

2. Will having all my schooling and being certified and getting experience on a Volly Dept and working for the local EMS service is some way make up for my record? In addition, is there anything else I can do to add to or "pad" my resume, to make me stand out, make me worth hiring, in spite of a record?

3. With the whole legalizations thing taking place in Colorado, do you think there is a chance I would have a better chance getting hired on at an FD in Co? On a similar note, what States and areas are generally easier on their candidates with misdemeanor drug charges?

4. If/when I do get hired, will my record still follow me, effecting my chances of getting promoted and things of that nature?

5. The change was in Texas. What kinds of things can I expect in the way of getting my record expunged?

6. As I said before, I specifically want to get involved in Technical Rescue. What kind of problems, if any, can I expect from that specific line of work, if I have this change?

Any other advice you can give your be appreciated. This isn't something I'm proud of, it was just stupid curiosity that ended up bad.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Expungement is a legal process. It is difficult to do it correctly by yourself. It would probably be worth the investment to check it out. It might be your best bet.

If they get a hold of your CCH (and they probably will, at some point), they are going to ask you about it. You need to realize that the only thing the charge means is that you got caught once. Although others will give you different advice, you need to pay attention to the questions (written and oral) and answer honestly. If they ask about convictions, no, you don't have any. If they ask about arrests, yes you have one and the charge was adjudicated through a diversionary program. If they ask about that arrest, you need to tell the truth.

[FFighterRob]

That’s a lot of questions. First of all the legalization thing won’t help you. Even if you were in a state that had it, you didn’t have a prescription at the time.

You are doing all of the right things, getting it taken care of so it looks as small on you record as possible. But it will still be there, the more ground you can cover between that mistake and the smarter you the better. I don’t think hiring with a minor drug charge varies as much from state to state, as it does department to department. They will either allow it or not.

If you were just a F/F, EMT I would say it might be a bigger problem. There is more competition. Having your medic and volunteer time will help. If you take a test and are allow to continue, the panel conducting you interview will most likely not know about you problem, it would come up in background or a chief’s interview. I have never heard of a mistake made before hiring hurting you in the promotional process as long as you don’t repeat it.

I also don’t think you will have any problem getting into and though technical classes.

Keep your head up and you should be alright. Take every test you can and put the past behind you. You have done a lot of right things in your life, focus on them and continue with it. Everyone has mistakes they have made in the past, it’s how you handle them that shows what kind of a person you are, and what kind of a firefighter you WILL BE.

Give me a call or email, if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to talk with you about it.

Good Luck, Capt Rob
Nrtc@sonic.net
707 869 1330
www.myfireinterview.com

[CaptBob]

Many agencies background packet will ask you several times "have you ever". If you don't answer honestly and they find out you will be eliminated from the process. They will also ask if you have ever had an expungement or been in a referral program like the one you're in. If you answer yes, they want you to reveal the why.

What can cause you the biggest problem is having this come up in a psych interview. If you were caught it's got to be assumed you did it more times. Maybe 100 or more. That right there could cause the wheels to start coming off your wagon. If you can't be convincing in your reply to this situation nothing else you can do with edcuation, experience and even becoming a medic is going to help you.

[Firemedic515]

stay positive. you may want to seek the advise of someone in law.

[Firemedic515]

If it does happen to come up in a polygraph, just tell the truth.

[CaptBob]

Legally speaking, you are not required to reveal it once expunged.

Really? Things have changed. Just remember what I wrote above:

Many agencies background packet will ask you several times "have you ever". If you don't answer honestly and they find out you will be eliminated from the process. They will also ask if you have ever had an expungement or been in a referral program like the one you're in. If you answer yes, they want you to reveal the why.

I've had candidates who were told by the district attorney where they were charged that because they went through a diversion program or had it expunged that they didn't have to list it or it was no longer on their record. Well, guess what? It was. The ambulance company picked up one. A background picked up several. So, what do you do? They said it wasn't there. It popped up.

One candidated revealed he was in a diversion program, revealed it and passed the background and psych for not one but now his third department. Why you say? Becaused he revealed it and was prepare before he was grilled. Oh, and he also revealed he stole a sweatshirt from his employer Costco and was fired. Well, not exactly. Yea he was fired but he was working nights stocking the heat was off, he got cold, put on a sweat shirt from a rack and was so tired when he got off at 6:00 am he forgot he had it on. Yea, that's his story. He got hired 3 times.

[JHR1985]

You also dont have to reveal what happened before you were 18 but I think that is a little besides the point in this regards

[Futureresq]

Thanks for the replies everyone, you have all been helpful. I think I will be honest even if I do expunge it. Honestly is always the best policy, right? Capt Rob- I may drop you a line with more questions, thanks for the offer!

CaptBob (and anyone else who can answer)- You talk about being prepared and convincing in my reply during the psych eval and polygraph. Can you guys give me some more information on this? What do I need to be ready for, and who to I need to be ready for it? As I said before, its going to be a few years before I will apply for work in a dept, so I have plenty of time to work on whatever I need to work on.

[JayDudley]

All who have replied have been correct ...except the person who thinks because it was before your 18 doesn't matter and you do not have to own up to it. WRONG!! As an ex-background investigator I can gain access to your minor records through the P.D. So remember what George, Captain Bob, FFRob and others have said...Have you EVER!! That means ever.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jay Dudley, Retired Fire
"You never get a second chance at a first impression"

[JHR1985]

Thats funny. Because when I did my polygraph, I had just turned 18 six months previous. So, my polygraph lasted about ten minutes because anything and everything I did before I was 18 was of little or no importance.