Question about public intoxication.

[Subfallen]

So a college-age friend of mine got arrested and charged with public intoxication. He *thinks* he can get the charge dismissed because he has several friends who will testify that he was neither a danger to himself nor others. But you never know.

My question for OOT is: say the worst happens, how much will a single public intoxication incident (Class C Misdemeanor) affect his employability? Does anyone here have any experience with this?

This is a serious post, and I appreciate any serious feedback provided. (No, I am not the friend, in fact I don't drink.)

[shant]

I wasn't arrested for this, but I got the misdemeanor ticket for it. Is that anywhere near the same thing? It hasn't affected my hirability because I work in design and they could care less. I've been absolutely no help.

[Subfallen]

Yes, that's the same thing. I guess strictly speaking he wasn't "arrested", but the cop did take him to the station until his friends could come pick him up.

[ChipWrecked]

Probably will be dropped or knocked down to disturbing the peace or some such. If not, he can file to have his record expunged later.

[shant]

Oh OK, well then maybe I can be of some help. I just paid the ticket and never heard about it again. I've never been asked about it in a job interview, but like I said I work in design and they're not as straight-laced as other fields.

[Hal 2000]

Depends on the job. Typically, the application will ask either have you been convicted of a felony in the last X years, OR, have you been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the past X years. If he's applying for a particularly responsible job in the very near future, I imagine it might be a problem. As far as after college, I doubt it, unless he plans on working for the government.

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
He *thinks* he can get the charge dismissed because he has several friends who will testify that he was neither a danger to himself nor others.

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh, if this was possible wouldn't everyone do it?

Maybe it is, but I've never ever heard anyone doing this.

[rohjoh]

California lets you go to a traffic school like class, all about alcohol awareness. Pretty boring, but it erases it off your record.

[Subfallen]

[ QUOTE ]
If he's applying for a particularly responsible job in the very near future...

[/ QUOTE ]

So this sort of thing loses significance with time, right? I told him that, but he's kind of worried. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
Probably will be dropped or knocked down to disturbing the peace or some such. If not, he can file to have his record expunged later.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm...interesting, I'll advise him to look into this expungement thing.

[Hal 2000]

Does he have representation? My attorney was excellent in explaining to me how to treat my 'indiscretion' when pursuing jobs..