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I am looking over an employment application for a local prosecutor's office. One of the questions asks whether the applicant has ever used, sold, or given away any illegal drugs. I never have, except for a couple of times I tried pot way back in college. That seems so minor and long ago to me, and I'm wondering if they expect people to answer this question in the affirmative over something small like that, or if they probably mean something more serious. I want to be truthful, but I also don't want to open a can of worms unnecessarily. What do people think?

Anonymous User wrote:I am looking over an employment application for a local prosecutor's office. One of the questions asks whether the applicant has ever used, sold, or given away any illegal drugs. I never have, except for a couple of times I tried pot way back in college. That seems so minor and long ago to me, and I'm wondering if they expect people to answer this question in the affirmative over something small like that, or if they probably mean something more serious. I want to be truthful, but I also don't want to open a can of worms unnecessarily. What do people think?

This seems like common sense, but if you were never in trouble or caught, no need to bring it up, I'm pretty sure almost everyone on TLS has tried it.

NanaP wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I am looking over an employment application for a local prosecutor's office. One of the questions asks whether the applicant has ever used, sold, or given away any illegal drugs. I never have, except for a couple of times I tried pot way back in college. That seems so minor and long ago to me, and I'm wondering if they expect people to answer this question in the affirmative over something small like that, or if they probably mean something more serious. I want to be truthful, but I also don't want to open a can of worms unnecessarily. What do people think?

This seems like common sense, but if you were never in trouble or caught, no need to bring it up, I'm pretty sure almost everyone on TLS has tried it.

Thanks, yeah that is exactly what I was thinking. But then part of me started thinking that this might be a gotcha question just to find liars - They probably expect that most people have done this at least once in their life, so if someone responds no, they might be skeptical? Is that just silly to think?

Say no, and if they ask a follow up question, remember your first answer and stick to it.

As a lawyer, you are never allowed to respond to a question with anything but upright candor.

The script for Liar, Liar was actually based off of the actual experiences of many attorneys.

To be serious for a moment, you'd be surprised how many boyscouts there are in the world gunning for prosecution work. Don't assume everyone is - or was - a drug user, or that a response indicating as much about yourself will be tolerated.

I had a friend doing an SF-85 for a federal (non-law enforcement) internship who disclosed he had done pot a couple times back in college. They may have asked him a follow-up, but I do know they had no problem hiring him as an intern and he was later hired by another federal agency on a permanent basis. That said, I know friends who have smoked, never disclosed it, and haven't had problems and I know friends, like myself, who have never smoked, so there is a whole universe of approaches. I do imagine that the penalties for lying and then getting caught are severe enough (terminated, disbarred, etc.) that I wouldn't recommend following my friends who did not disclose.

Anonymous User wrote:I had a friend doing an SF-85 for a federal (non-law enforcement) internship who disclosed he had done pot a couple times back in college. They may have asked him a follow-up, but I do know they had no problem hiring him as an intern and he was later hired by another federal agency on a permanent basis. That said, I know friends who have smoked, never disclosed it, and haven't had problems and I know friends, like myself, who have never smoked, so there is a whole universe of approaches. I do imagine that the penalties for lying and then getting caught are severe enough (terminated, disbarred, etc.) that I wouldn't recommend following my friends who did not disclose.

Hmm, do you think it would matter if it were a federal law-enforcement agency internship (not FBI or ATF)? One where it was also just the SF-85 that was required, with an attached drug questionnaire similar to the one in OP's post.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I had a friend doing an SF-85 for a federal (non-law enforcement) internship who disclosed he had done pot a couple times back in college. They may have asked him a follow-up, but I do know they had no problem hiring him as an intern and he was later hired by another federal agency on a permanent basis. That said, I know friends who have smoked, never disclosed it, and haven't had problems and I know friends, like myself, who have never smoked, so there is a whole universe of approaches. I do imagine that the penalties for lying and then getting caught are severe enough (terminated, disbarred, etc.) that I wouldn't recommend following my friends who did not disclose.

Hmm, do you think it would matter if it were a federal law-enforcement agency internship (not FBI or ATF)? One where it was also just the SF-85 that was required, with an attached drug questionnaire similar to the one in OP's post.

My last SF-85 only covers illegal drugs taken in the last year, so I assume my friend at the other agency had a similar rider if he had to disclose things he did three years earlier in college. I don't know the distinctions among the federal law-enforcement agencies for prior use, but I do know that some positions carry associational restrictions that prohibit you from being around illegal drugs or associating with people using illegal drugs. I think it goes towards a theory that if you're supposed to be enforcing the laws, openly being around people who are breaking the laws undermines your enforcement position. In the case of a non-FBI/ATF law enforcement agency, my hunch is that they would care slightly more than a generic federal job would because of the risks of a person failing to enforce laws they've broken in the past or having past criminal associates who might interfere with their current work. Assuming you've been clean since college and only used it a bit in college, I think you would be best off disclosing. Just remember that if you disclose on that application, you'll also have to disclose it in the bar admission's process, and they may make you do some pro-forma counseling that shows you really are clean.

Don't lie to the government

rad lulz wrote:Don't lie to the government

This.

If the question asks if you have ever used/sold/given away illegal drugs, they expect you to answer if you have ever done those things. If there are exceptions they will give you clear instructions about them. Yes, they expect people to answer in the affirmative for something small like trying pot a couple of times in college, even if you never got in trouble or there's no way you could get caught for it.

However, trying pot a couple of times in college is also highly unlikely to ding you (especially the further you get from college). Getting caught lying about it is incredibly likely to ding you (lying is usually much worse than whatever you're lying to cover up).

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

rad lulz wrote:Don't lie to the government

This.

If the question asks if you have ever used/sold/given away illegal drugs, they expect you to answer if you have ever done those things. If there are exceptions they will give you clear instructions about them. Yes, they expect people to answer in the affirmative for something small like trying pot a couple of times in college, even if you never got in trouble or there's no way you could get caught for it.

However, trying pot a couple of times in college is also highly unlikely to ding you (especially the further you get from college). Getting caught lying about it is incredibly likely to ding you (lying is usually much worse than whatever you're lying to cover up).

I'm the anon above that asked about disclosing for a federal law-enforcement internship. I actually already disclosed (trying weed in college, it was 6 years ago), and mailed them the questionnaire/application about a month ago. I'm only asking now because I'm anxiously awaiting the results (because if they reject me now, I have to find another summer job at this late stage in the game).

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

rad lulz wrote:Don't lie to the government

This.

If the question asks if you have ever used/sold/given away illegal drugs, they expect you to answer if you have ever done those things. If there are exceptions they will give you clear instructions about them. Yes, they expect people to answer in the affirmative for something small like trying pot a couple of times in college, even if you never got in trouble or there's no way you could get caught for it.

However, trying pot a couple of times in college is also highly unlikely to ding you (especially the further you get from college). Getting caught lying about it is incredibly likely to ding you (lying is usually much worse than whatever you're lying to cover up).

I'm the anon above that asked about disclosing for a federal law-enforcement internship. I actually already disclosed (trying weed in college, it was 6 years ago), and mailed them the questionnaire/application about a month ago. I'm only asking now because I'm anxiously awaiting the results (because if they reject me now, I have to find another summer job at this late stage in the game).

I think the link here was really helpful: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 9#p6589440

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

rad lulz wrote:Don't lie to the government

This.

If the question asks if you have ever used/sold/given away illegal drugs, they expect you to answer if you have ever done those things. If there are exceptions they will give you clear instructions about them. Yes, they expect people to answer in the affirmative for something small like trying pot a couple of times in college, even if you never got in trouble or there's no way you could get caught for it.

However, trying pot a couple of times in college is also highly unlikely to ding you (especially the further you get from college). Getting caught lying about it is incredibly likely to ding you (lying is usually much worse than whatever you're lying to cover up).

I'm the anon above that asked about disclosing for a federal law-enforcement internship. I actually already disclosed (trying weed in college, it was 6 years ago), and mailed them the questionnaire/application about a month ago. I'm only asking now because I'm anxiously awaiting the results (because if they reject me now, I have to find another summer job at this late stage in the game).

I think the link here was really helpful: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 9#p6589440

haha, thanks brother, but i was the one that made that thread lol

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I think the link here was really helpful: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 9#p6589440

haha, thanks brother, but i was the one that made that thread lol

Ha! Wondered if you were. Oh, well, I got nothing. Good luck though!