voyager1 wrote on Jan 7
th, 2005 at 9:52pm:
I won't give details but lets just say i was in one of those places where they lie about their age. ( i knew i should have checked id's )
but two years later we're good friends and she's 18 now. I'm just wondering if this would just decline my application or open up a bigger can of worms.
I would be very careful with any details you give to anyone at this point. When dealing with law enforcement, I'm not sure how the breaking of this law plays into the application process. However if they have a policy of not hiring people who admit to X, Y, and Z crimes, no matter the circumstances, then you will not get hired. It is really going to depend on the liberalness of the department you are applying to.
I seriously doubt that this will be brought up into formal charges against you, assuming your violation of this law was not as serious as the crimes the law is intended to protect against (taking advantage of minors).
Personally, I would not pursue this issue with anyone related to your application, or the department. You have been honest and upfront. If you make a bigger issue of it, then they will have no choice but to explore why your conscience is so concerned with this issue, even though it's simply because you want this job so damn bad.
Law enforcement officers only see guilty consciences. Don't give them any other reasons to think you have either committed other serious offenses, or this particular offense was worse than it appears to be. People aren't perfect, and this mistake really isn't that bad. I don't see a reason why you shouldn't continue with the application process.
The process is about discovery of character. You have proven a lot about yourself by mentioning this offense. Don't make it something bigger or more worse that it is. That is their job, not yours. If they are going to make a big deal about it, then it's not under your control. What is under your control is what you tell them about the incident.
If they insist on knowing the name, location, etc .. of the minor involved in this crime, then you will have to at that point decide if the application and job is worth the gamble of not knowing why they are really trying to find out other information. But at this point, if the ages involved are the only things they know, then I would think the worst possible outcome is a tough polygraph exam and/or declined application.
All we can offer on this forum is rational speculation. Personally, if I were a sheriff and this was the only problem I had with your application, background investigation, polygraph etc.., I wouldn't have a problem hiring you. But that's me, someone who has never been part of law enforcement.
You could always call a lawyer and tell them of the circumstances as they department knows them, and ask if they can bring you up on charges. Specifically if the statute of limitations have run out (it being 2 years later and such).
Good luck!
Randy