Application for probation officer--turthfully answer questionare yes/no?

Question

I have a friend applying to work in probation in San Bernidino county, california.  The application packet they give is huge and includes an extensive questionare regarding both drug use and previous employment.  My buddy experimented with drugs in high school and was asked to quit a job when he was 19.  (he quit, and was not fired).  Now his girlfriend says be bruttally honest to the questionare and explain that  he has reformed (he's 32 now).  I say lie your butt off, don't list the job he was asked to leave from on the employment list, and answer no to any drug related question.  Now bearing in mind that he's been clean for a decade and has had stable complaint free employment for the same period of time, without delving too far into the morality of lying on the application, for practicality which would be the better option? i.e. how deep do they really dig into these questions, and if you were honest, realisticaly, would it be an automatic rejection, even though they say it wont?

Mama Pastafarian · Accepted Answer

He should tell the truth.  If he lies, and they find out the truth, he won't get hired and won't be able to get any law enforcement job or government job in the future.

And they will find out.  They will run his name through NCIC and also do an extensive background check, so the information is bound to be discovered.

If he can show that he's been clean for 10 years now, the past won't be a big deal.  If he lies, the past will be a very big deal.

The Voice of Reason Is Silenced · Answer

Your friend should be honest about everything. He has more of a chance of getting the job by being honest than by lying, because law enforcement agencies perform extensive background queries on all of their applicants, and if it comes out that your friend lied (and it will come out) then he can kiss that job and any hopes of a future career with law enforcement goodbye. The fact that he has been clean for the past 10 years and that he has maintained steady employment will more than likely override the fact that he smoked weed at one time and was fired from a job.

stephen p · Answer

The truth is ALWAYS better, especially when dealing with a law enforcement or corrections agency.  The background check will uncover any lies or "omissions", and will be grounds for rejection.  A ten-year-old history of drug use, when 19 or so, will be looked upon better if the truth is told, and during the oral interview, he can explain.  Lie, and there will be no explanation.

JohnJohn · Answer

BE HONEST. They often times dig deep; including finding people from your past to ask about you. They often talk to neighbors and friends. Honesty is the best policy especially when applying for a position like this.

Anonymous · Answer

be truthful. i worked in personnel for a while. some things, like marijuana experimentation in the past, is over looked. we did an extensive background on candidates. most of the turn downs were for lying on the application. you can't trust a liar and in law enforcement you must have credibility, especially when in court

? · Answer

Very demanding!!!!!!!!!! sure, it handed off to me a twelve months in the past with a former Yahoo identity. question: "Which comes first: chicken or egg?" My answer: "chicken (alphabetical order!)" yet another answerer used my comparable answer when I submitted it. His replaced into chosen appropriate answer. became out to be a team of two persons who had a sprint interest going the place she would pose a query; he would answer; and no remember how inane (or insane) the respond, his would be chosen for the ten factors. An occasion -- she asked the question: "Who invented the 24 hour day?" He spoke back "Rolex proprietor", and he or she chosen that as appropriate answer.

Anonymous · Answer

I agree: he should lie. Honesty is for suckers, I've discovered.

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Application for probation officer--turthfully answer questionare yes/no?

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