Common Criminology Background Check Disqualifiers

Common Criminology Background Check Disqualifiers Common Criminology Background Check Disqualifiers Jobs in criminology and related fields can be fun and rewarding, and there are plenty of reasons one may want to be a police officer or other criminal justice professionals. Unfortunately, these careers arent for everyone.  Some people have too many issues in their past that will disqualify them in a background check. Why Police Have Background Checks Strict standards are in place, and rigid background investigations are conducted to make sure the right people are working in these positions of authority and trust. The list of issues that can disqualify you in your background check is long and distinguished, and there are hosts of activities that could keep you from landing your dream job. List of Background Disqualifiers To help you determine whether or not you have a shot at working as a police officer, probation officer or other related careers, or to help keep you on the right track when youre finally ready to fill out the law enforcement job application, heres a look at some common background check disqualifiers. Generally, job candidates are most commonly dropped from consideration for one or more of the following: Felony convictionsSerious misdemeanorsPast or current drug useCredit issuesDishonorable discharge from military serviceFalsification or the untruthfulness on the applicationPoor work historyPast or current gang affiliationsUndetected crimesProblematic driving historyDomestic violence Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive or exhaustive list, but rather the more common issues that will cause a potential employer to decide to hire someone. Heres a closer look at each of these background blemishes: Felony Convictions Theres not a lot of ambiguity here; if youve been convicted of or plead guilty or nolo contendere to a crime that constitutes a felony or that would have been a felony in the jurisdiction youre applying in, the chances are extremely high that you wont be able to continue in the hiring process. Serious Misdemeanors While felonies are pretty clear-cut, what constitutes a serious misdemeanor gets a little cloudy. The exact definition may change from agency to agency. Even though misdemeanors are not as serious as felonies, there are certain crimes that departments cannot abide. These include: Recent (within ten years or so) DUI convictionsCrimes of violence such as assault or batteryCrimes that speak to a persons honesty and integrity, such as perjury and some types of theft Past or Current Drug Use It should come as no surprise that employers expect their employees and job applicants to be drug-free. Past drug use, though, is a different story. Call it a sign of the times, but many departments have become more forgiving of some past minor drug use, provided it was on an experimental basis as opposed to sustained and recreational use. Experimental use typically means just a few times in a  very short period of time. This newfound tolerance is also limited to marijuana and other lesser drugs. Any use of cocaine, hallucinogens or designer drugs such as ecstasy will usually be automatic disqualifiers. Credit Issues No, most agencies dont care what your credit score is. What they are concerned about is whether or not youve been meeting your obligations, and whether or not youll be able to continue to do so on the salary theyre going to pay. The whole issue here is to make sure employees will be in a position to succeed in their careers and will be less tempted toward bribery and graft. Dishonorable Discharge from Military Prior military service is highly valued in nearly every employment sector, and this is certainly no less true in law enforcement and criminal justice. An honorable discharge from the military will carry you a long way. However, a dishonorable discharge is almost always an automatic disqualifier. Falsification and Untruthfulness Its a simple concept: if youre caught lying on your application, youre not  going to get hired. Necessarily, careers in criminology place a premium on truthfulness, and it starts with the job application. To keep candidates honest, many agencies employ a polygraph exam as part of their process. Poor Work History Certainly, one bad recommendation can be explained away as a personality conflict with the boss or just a bad fit for you. A pattern of poor work history and less-than-favorable recommendations for past employers, especially a history that suggests laziness, a bad attitude or poor relations with customers and fellow workers, will likely keep you from getting hired. Past or Current Gang Affiliations Gangs are synonymous with serious criminal activity. Naturally, agencies cannot take the risk of hiring gang members. Some of the tells of gang involvement are strategically placed tattoos, wearing certain colors and symbols, personal affiliations and past criminal history. Undetected Crimes Convictions are one thing, commissions are another. Its no secret that law enforcement officers dont detect or make arrests for every crime thats ever been committed. However, if during the background investigation youre found to have committed a crime that you were never arrested for or convicted of, you may very well be disqualified from the process. Problematic Driving History Everyone makes mistakes, and there have been plenty of people who have had less than stellar driving records and gone to work long and successful careers. However, serious and sustained periods of driving infractions or crimes demonstrate character flaws and either a complete disregard for  or at least an inability to follow, the laws of the land. Some of the issues on your driving record that can keep you from getting hired includes: Prior driver license suspensionsMultiple moving violationsReckless driving convictionsExcessive speeding citations Domestic Violence Domestic violence runs completely contrary to the purpose of law enforcement. It can also be a source of liability for a department who hires someone who has a past history of violence at home. Any incident of domestic violence in your past will be an automatic disqualifier. Why You Need to Keep Your Record Clean Using the above list as a guide, you can better determine whether or not you should pursue a career in law enforcement or criminal justice. You can also get a better picture of the type of activity you should avoid if you hope to land a job as a ?police officer or other criminology professional  in the future. By keeping your record clean, you can put yourself in the best position possible to get hired.