Impact of a Prince George’s County DUI on Security Clearances

Jobs that require security clearances may be difficult to obtain and even harder to keep after a DUI conviction. An accused person may be required to defend themselves to their employer even if they win the DUI case. Speak to a defense attorney about the impact of a Prince George’s County DUI on security clearances. A seasoned defense attorney could explain your legal options and help protect your career and reputation.

Security Clearance for PG County Employees

There are different levels of security clearances that a person might need to pass, depending on their job. These may range from basic security clearance which could be required for driving into the military base to pick up trash and other mundane tasks, to top security clearances for high-level government jobs. The most basic clearances are typically renewed once every ten years, while the most intensive clearances are renewed once a year and are carefully scrutinized. Clearances are very restrictive. If a person’s family member gets charged for a crime, the person may need to report it to an employer since it may affect their clearance status.

A DUI May Jeopardize Someone’s Ability to Obtain Clearance

A DUI on record could jeopardize someone’s ability to obtain a security clearance since they may be deemed unfit. If someone is going to have access to sensitive information and they show irresponsibility in alcohol consumption and a lack of good judgment, it may compromise an employer’s ability to trust them with secrets. They could have their clearance revoked or be unable to renew it. Typically, the majority of security clearances that someone in Prince George’s County already has would not be impacted by a DUI charge or conviction if they are already in place. Clearances typically need to be renewed after a certain period of time, and issues may arise during the renewal period.

Consequences of Losing Security Clearance

Losing security clearance after a Prince George’s County DUI charge could impact a person’s employment if the job requires them to have a clearance. A person may lose the ability to go to certain places, be involved in certain discussions, or share certain data and information. If they do not have a clearance for that, they could lose their job.

Defense Strategies

Defense strategies for DUI charges and their impacts on security clearance may vary since these charges are typically more problematic than others. While DUIs are serious, they are not theft or hit-and-runs, which are crimes of deception or dishonesty that almost certainly may disqualify someone from having a clearance. Theft or hit-and-run charges speak to somebody’s ability to be trusted, while a DUI is more a matter of irresponsibility and less about trustworthiness.

Individuals with security clearances are often rightfully concerned about the impact a conviction will have on their careers. If you were charged with a DUI, you should consider reaching out to an experienced attorney for help. Learn how you could deal with the impact of a Prince George’s County DUI on security clearances by calling an attorney.