Camden, NJ asked in Criminal Law for Maryland

Q: How should i answer questions regarding my felony history?

I was found guilty of a felony in Baltimore Co, Md. Once I satisfied my probation/restitution requirements, my judgement was reduced to a PBJ. When applying for an electrical apprentice license in Md, I was asked if I have committed any local/state infractions, and if so to list/explain them. Do I need to reveal my previous felony conviction?

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2 Lawyer Answers

A: It would depend the exact wording of the question. You may need to disclose that you received probation before judgment for the offense which is not a conviction or it may appear that you were not truthful and these statements are under oath.

A: They will perform a background check and it will come up. Therefore, if you do not disclose it, they will treat your answer as either false or misleading, and that kind of dishonesty will likely sink your application. They care more about being honest than they do about an old criminal case where you do not have a conviction of guilt. And they will find it anyway, so better to get out ahead of this. You can honestly state that you have not been convicted, but you did receive a "probation without entry of judgment X number of years ago, when you were X years old and you successfully completed your probation and have turned your life around" etc. You may want to consult with a lawyer to see if your particular felony is old enough and eligible for expungement. Some are, after a period of years. If not, you should focus on all the years since that incident and everything you have done to lead a law abiding, exemplary life (work, education, training, community involvement, raising a family, etc.). The purpose for which they are asking this question has to do with moral character. Therefore, you need to highlight those character traits in yourself with concrete examples if possible. Getting written references from past and present employers, technical training and school instructors, clergy of your church, who can attest to your reputation for honest and integrity, and moral character, may also help.

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