Legal Question in Criminal Law in Wisconsin

Reporting ''felony'' on job applications

Party was advised by Probation Officer to just put ''No'' in answer to ''Have you ever been convicted of a felony?'' Among 4 applicants my niece was notified she had the job as she fit the description and had past experience as an

optometrist. She worked there for two weeks and was called into the office and informed they had to get her go due to the fact that she misrepresented herself. She now

feels that getting a job will be very difficult because of this and she does have a little girl to support. She was doing well, she liked it there and they had complimented her on her work. What should she do, keep putting in applications and answering truthfully to that question and then be turned down for a job? She is devistated. People have to work and she realizes she caused a problem in her life (an addiction to pain pills) but has been doing fine and getting her life back together. How do people overcome this stigma?


Asked on 10/04/05, 4:23 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
JAY Nixon nixon law offices

Re: Reporting ''felony'' on job applications

Removing a felony conviction from one's record is an extremely difficult proposition. In WI, the governor has the ability to pardon all convictions, but this power is usually reserved for persons who display an exemplary record of public service and crime free living for a decade or more. The only other way is through a recomendation from law enforcement or the DA, which is generally reserved for informants and which may be unavailable after the passage of time. Lying about a conviction on a job application will always provide the employer with the option of dismissal due to misrepresentation and would additionally be a crime in the case of government employment applications. Since WI convictions are public records available on the internet, most employers will verify job applicant answers to such questions, so the applicant would rarely get away with lying in any event.

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Answered on 10/05/05, 11:37 am


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