LEO application

[OneGuy67]

Perhaps you could use their words to your benefit.

Misdemeanors and felonies differ, in definition, from state to state. What is a crime in one state may not be in another.
Laws change from year to year. What is a crime one year may not be the next, or vice versa.

Until you are tried and convicted, your activities are only your "alleged crimes" , thus unless convicted you have no other misdemeanors and felonies than those on record.

By the way, if you were convicted of a felony, they should not have let you into the academy if they knew you would have access to firearms.

MY BIG QUESTION": What is the statute of limitations on being able to convict you on any of the things to which you admit ?

I would be concerned with the fact that that may keep your statement of admission of guilt to specific things as a record.
EX: I stole some video games from the Walmart on 120th/Sheridan when I was 14.

You never know at what time in your life that list may 'go public'...even if it is never supposed to.

If you choose to admit anything, I'd be general and vague: EX: Shoplifted some things when I was a kid vs. the above Walmart example.

I might even spend a few hundred bucks for a good Criminal and/or Employment Lawyer and get some advice about what they CAN and CAN'T require you to do, under the law.
I was told by a lawyer, when a company wanted me to authorize them to look at any of my personal financial records as a condition to hire me, that 'They can do this...If you want the job, then sign it, else don't sign it"

Somehow I kind of feel like it is the police trying to get around the law. Similar to how they often tell you "Whatever you say can and will be used against you." but then try to use tactics to get you to talk ("We'll go easy on you if you cooperate", "Mind if we step in your house for a minute to talk ?" etc.)

I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

It is not an easy thing to freely admit guilt...just ask any Catholic that has gone or still goes to Confession.

As a LEO I can tell you this is bad advice. You go vague, you won't be hired. All LE agencies want to know all your dirt in order to know what type of person they might be hiring and giving authority to. There is a large difference between shoplifting some candy to shoplifting a bike, and it goes to the type of person you were or could still possibly be. As for prosecution of crimes admitted, I haven't seen one, but I have seen where a current LEO was trying to be hired and admitted to things done while a LEO at his current agency and the prospective agency refused to hire him and told his current agency what he admitted to and he was fired from there after an investigation. All your old stuff done while a teenager is most likely over the statute of limitations, e.g. 18 months for misdemeanor, 3 years for a felony (with certain criminal acts not included in this limitation and far too many to mention here).

When I was doing background investigations I often ran into this issue, sealed or ex-sponged arrests due to a differed sentence or a differed prosecution. It doesn't matter what you think is hidden, sealed, or removed, LE agencies will see it. The report we received reflected ALL arrests, not just convictions. That is the key, many people think the question is only pertaining to convictions and don't think beyond that. Not sure why they would think that, but if you have ever been "processed" and released then you have been arrested, and if asked "Have you ever been arrested?" then answer YES and explain it. Just some advice.

What he said.

The judge's order removes the ability of the public to view that case, but it doesn't remove it from access by law enforcement.

[Ronin13]

I do have one addition to what Ranger said, having done the process very recently:
Things you didn't know they could find out, they can, and probably will. I had a contact with Clear Creek Country SO back in 2005. Nothing resulted, but in my background interview I was asked about the circumstances. This came as a surprise as I thought I was excluded from the purpose of their contact (underage drinking, I was the DD for my friends at a party in the woods). They can find out, so best to be honest, unless you forget (like in my case) and you have that 'oh, right!' moment and need to explain. Always remember, the most important thing for LE is integrity. Once that's gone it's impossible to do your job very well.

[cstone]

These are positions of public service. They are a public trust.

If you have issues in your past that will embarrass you or diminish the reputation of the employing agency, you DO NOT want to work there.

Whatever your background investigation fails to uncover WILL be exposed by defense attorneys and members of the media the first time your on or off duty conduct is called into question.

Bore your background investigators and HR people with all of the things I can assure you they have seen numerous times prior to you. If you legitimately forget something and are asked, admit you forgot and tell them everything.

See Giglio v U.S and Brady v Maryland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giglio_v._United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brady_v._Maryland

Be safe.