Background Check Question
 

When I was 20 I was arrested for under age drinking. Yeah...probably not the brightest of choices but now I want to apply for a regional. I was not convicted and did probation before judgement on the east coast. I had my record expunged from both the state and government. I have submitted my fingerprints to the FBI for a background check assuming that is the agency who the airlines go through for the TSA background checks. My fingerprints came back with no arrest record. Does this mean I am in the clear.

I would hate to get to groundschool only to find out something different.
Thanks,

You are not required to submit information that has been expunged from your record. Also, that is not one of the offenses that is disqualifying. Other than those offenses listed that are disqualifying, you don't have to report anything over 10 years ago. Besides, I believe you said you were never convicted.

My disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer. I'm providing this info based on what I read on the forms I filled out going through the interview process. The infomation is to the best of my knowledge and I am about 98% sure of the accuracy. So, if someone knows more about this, please chime in.

Hope this helps some...I think you will be ok.

take motherly advice: IF you had it expunged, it IS GONE. No matter what others on this site may tell you...you are fine. Trust me. Once again, if it was expunged......you are fine!

Thanks
 

It was expunged so great. Thank You for the information hot mamma pilot. Less stress to worry about now during training.

You may not be a lawyer but you sure do C.Y.A. like one! :)

I;m with HMP on this one. Key word EXPUNGED! FLY SAFE T.C.

Expunged doesn't always mean expunged. One of our professors here had a classmate apply at xjet and didn't report an underage drinking ticket that he got out in Bismarck because it was "expunged." Well turns out it was expunged to all agencies except the FBI, he later came to find out that xjet has the FBI do their background checks. He called HR and told them about the incident and they flew him down to Houston and ripped him a new ********* then still gave him the job. If you get the FBI to do your check and give you a copy and it comes up clean you are probably ok, otherwise just report it. Nothing could be worse than getting pulled out of groundschool and confronted about it then fired because that will follow you for a long time.

Probably won't ever affect TSA background checks, but if you ever submit for a DoD security clearance, expunged doesn't mean its gone. They can always find stuff about you if they want. The key is that you are trustworthy. I have an underage drinking that was plead down to disorderly conduct. I always report it as exactly that. If they ask about law enforcement issues, I bring it up. The key is that your comments and application match the background check.

This is true. The federal government (various agencies) take "snapshots" of state and local criminal records at regular intervals. Unfortunately for some folks, if they get their record expunged later, the federal copy of that record does NOT go away. For security purposes the fed is concerned with whether or not you did it...they don't give a rat's @ss if it was plead down or expunged.

Most employers would never have access to certain federal records...but the airline security issue brings things into the national security realm, where things like labor law are NA. I am not certain what info the airlines get when they request the mandatory federal background check, but there are numerous horror stories. The hiring manager will interupt your new hire class, and ask to speak to you in his office...and you will never return to class (I have witnessed this twice).

I would suggest that if the original offense was mild (ie not armed robbery) and occured when you were younger it is probably best to come clean and explain it as a learning experience. That way it won't be hanging over your head in the future. Remember that if you get terminated in ground school after the background checks you will have been fired from a 121 employer for lying about your background...you will almost certainly never recover from that.

Tell All
 

I have allways told all about my Missbehaving. I was told a long time ago tell all and leave nothing gives them nothing to dig for and people get bored with the truth.

why? like someone previously said, if it's expunged, you don't need to report it. You make a point that xjt found out about it, but he still got the job didn't he? why not just tell them how many times you've cussed in your life or how many times you've had road rage while you're at it? bottom line: just like on a checkride/oral......don't open up any cans of worms; only answer the q's that YOU ARE REQUIRED TO. Convictions or charges expunged do not fall into that category.

The questions should be worded specifically. All of the background paperwork I've filled out had specific language that indicates whether or not you needed to record it. Often they ask two questions. Have you even been arrested/charged? And have you ever been convicted? You'd have to answer yes to the first even if it had been expunged. That would inevitably lead to the discussion of why it was expunged.

All Good Points
 

All valid points but since my Federal Record (FBI) came back with no arrest record, I am not too concerned. Great information though.

Because as rickair said they will find it! Although it may be expunged from and state agency seeing it the feds can still get their hands on anything. The feds do the background checks because, once again as rickair said, it is a security issue. Just get it out there, tell them what you learned, and you'll most likely still get the job. If you get fired for not disclosing it that will follow you on PRIA and your chances of getting a job at any carrier are pretty much flushed down the toilet. If it has been several years they probably won't care anyway. People can grow up a lot in 5-10 years.

be careful though......big brother is watching(according to nickair and coldplay):rolleyes:

Big Brother may not be directly watching. Those of us who have gone through security investigations (I'm pretty sure pilot background checks aren't nearly as thorough) understand that he has a pretty deep pile of info that he can dig into on each and every one of us. For instance, they knew my career plans and that my wife was pregnant without me telling them. If there once was a record of it, they can find it if they want to. If you are caught in a lie, you are definately hosed. If you are up front, you might be hosed. I'll take might be hosed over definately hosed any day.

but that does not pertain to this topic. The hiring agency still must follow the law(e.g. an expungement is just that). I don't care if they know how many times one jerks off in a day, they can't use it against you. an

At least twice a day! Sometimes more if i see Hot Mamma's avatar!Actually, i think that's how I got on at Delta.:D

lol......:D:)

While trying to find a list of questions asked for the TSA background check, I stumbled upon this from Pinnacle...
http://www.flypinnacle.com/site/our_...nformation.pdf

I didn't know they could ask you if you used tobacco...

When Alaska opened up it's a app window a while back, it was on there. I believe on the mins, besides all the hours and other stuff, it made reference to "non-tobacco" users as well.

seems like a lot of those questions are an invasion of privacy, beyond what they need to know

AK is well-known for the non-tobacco thing. The reason that they can ask that is because while tobacco use is not illegal, it is also not a protected right. The constitution does not guarantee it's use, or outlaw discrimination based on that. Actually a number of large companies are going tobacco free...lowers insurance premiums.

To clarify a little bit...

Some folks who obviously have no military/law enforcement experience will tell people that expunged means gone forever. Those of us who have been subject to, and/or involved with federal background checks on subordinates know darn well that the words expunged, plea bargain, dismissed, not charged, etc don't mean a thing to the feds...

What I do not know is how much of the almost unlimited info available to the federal government is provided to the airlines. Maybe nothing at all, maybe it's just pass/fail based on the list of disqualifying crimes. I don't know, and unless you work for TSA or Homeland security you don't know either.

People need to be aware that the info is out there, and make their own decisions on how to deal with their issues.

Tobacco free workplaces and insurance surcharges are one thing. Not hiring someone b/c they chose to smoke tobacco in their free time is the same as not hiring someone b/c they drink alcohol in their free time. The company can regulate it all they want at work, but they are coming up against legal challenges when they try to reach into your personal life. The first round of lawsuits have been levied against companies who tried to fire people for smoking off duty off company property. I don't personally smoke, but I like beer. I don't want a slippery slope where companies start trying to limit anything that could make you a higher insurance premium.

Beer (and red wine) is actually beneficial to your health in moderate quantities, unlike tobacco. But you're probably right, it's a slippery slope and it will be interesting to see where it ends up.