Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

I recently got a new job and one of the certification questions are: Have you EVER had any record of alcohol or substance abuse, financial irresponsibility, domestic violence, or child abuse? I was taken into custody then released but never charged or convicted or have to go to court for Domestic Violence. How do i answer that question?


Asked on 6/27/13, 8:11 am

3 Answers from Attorneys

Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

It's against the law for private employers in California to ask employees about arrests that don't lead to convictions. (Lab. Code, sect. 432.7.) They can only asks about actual convictions.

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Answered on 6/27/13, 10:17 am
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

"any record" means conviction. You haven't.

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Answered on 6/28/13, 12:04 pm
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Was the question written exactly as you have stated it? If so, it's quite odd. The question does not seem to ask specifically about criminal records. After all, "financial irresponsibility" isn't a crime. Neither is alcohol abuse, though such abuse sometimes leads to criminal behavior. The same is sometimes true of substance abuse, since there are substances which can be abused even though owning them and using them is legal.

At best it is unclear whether the question is asking if you've ever committed domestic violence or if you've ever been convicted of it.

And since it sounds like you already have your new job, the question evidently was not part of your job application. Mr. Roach describes some of the rules that applications must satisfy, but if this question comes from a different kind of document then it may not be subject to those rules. Besides, the rule that forbids employers to ask about arrests might not apply to questions that ask only about your conduct and not whether you were ever arrested for it.

You should probably invest in a couple of hours of a lawyer's time to discuss your situation in more detail.

Good luck.

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Answered on 6/28/13, 4:05 pm


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