I am a Software Engineer and starting school for Bacholers in Criminal Justice Cyber Crime. Ive noticed that alot of Computer Forensics jobs need some type of security clearance… is my application for clearance going to be affected by my husband's past conviction? He is a felon. Spent seven years in Minnasota.
A security clearance is usually granted by a specific agency and unless you are a US contractor, working for a US contractor or employed by the Federal Government you can't simply apply for one as a private citizen. Clearance is granted on the basis of a need to know so if you are not working for the government you have no need to know.
The application process can take up to a year and depending upon the level of clearance needed for the job many things may be relevant to you being granted clearance including the backgrounds of relatives and friends, your financial status, etc. Each adjucating agency can determine the requirements for security clearances. The law only specifies that process must be applied, consistently, to all applicants.
Bottom line is that I wouldn't worry about it until the time comes. Prospective employers usually look for people with security clearances because of the long lead time if you don't have it. But having a security clearance when moving to a new employer merely speeds things up. It doesn't guarantee that you'll be given clearance for the next job.
On the flip side, if you are ever denied security clearance then your chance of ever getting it are not good.
Clearances are, for the most part, not permanent and are reviewed at regular intervals (about 5 years).
I wouldn't worry about it for now.
Ive noticed that alot of Computer Forensics jobs need some type of security clearance… is my application for clearance going to be affected by my husband's past conviction? He is a felon. Spent seven years in Minnasota.
I didn't realize that time spent in Minnasota was considered a felony D .
In all seriousness, yeah, you husband being a felon will probably have an impact. While you might be able to get a lower-level security clearance, such as secret, I doubt if you would be able to get anything higher.
When I was getting my clearance, I was contacted by several friends from my past (who I did not include on my applications), telling me that they were contacted and interviewed. The whole point of the clearance process is to see if you are hiding anything that enemies can be use against you (blackmail), to reveal secrets. Money problems, drugs, sexual preferences, etc - not only of you but also your friends, and relatives.
Honesty is always the best policy - for example, they don't care if you tried pot, unless you told them you didn't, but your buddies said you did. They don't care about your sexual preferences, unless you are hiding them.
As for your husband, yeah, you might be denied over that. We've had guys in the past be denied clearences becasue they had foregin born wives (that seems to have been relaxed over time).
Also, the clearance process is time-consuming and expensive - as the other poster noted, it is the company that applies and pays for the clearnace on your behalf, and it will cost them thousands of dollars. They will not be happy if you get denied, espcially if you didn't warn them in advance.
But here is real problem you will likely face - for each job you apply for that requires a clearance, there will probably already be several applicants who already have the clearnance - so you are near the bottom on that list. Second, of all the people without clearnaces, there are probably several who are not married to felons - so you are near the bottom of that list as well. And while having an felon may not autmatically get you turned down for a clearance, I would be willing to bet that most companies would reject you out of hand since they would be concerned that it would, and therefore it is simply not worth the effort. And don't lie to them about the felon husband - at some point in the interview you will probably be asked if there is anything in your life that might prevent you from getting a security clearance - and that would probably be the time to tell them. But that will also probably end the interview as well.
To get past that barrier, you would have to have some mad skills, and be the only person capable of performing the job.
bj
I wouldn't let your husbands conviction stop you from applying for a position where a Secret or Top Secret clearance is required.
Remember, they're researching _you_, clearing _you_, not your husband.
Yes, depending upon why convicted and when convicted it may have an impact, but it's not your background.
Always be honest, nothing to hide, and roll the dice. Many folks who have clearances have past convictions themselves. A spouse would not be a reason I wouldn't apply. Depending upon the need for clearance, the conviction, the date of conviction, track record, etc., it may or may not affect you.
Cheers!
farmerdude
Thanks so much.. that is great to hear. That has been the consistant response also. I even talked with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
THanks so much. I am excited to get started.
Also, to expand a bit further on Government contracts and business with them…
A colleague at LIS Translation service who does quite a bit of contract work got me going in the direction of Federal contacts and the following
1 – You first want to get a DUNS #
2 – Register with
3 – Register with
4 – Register with
5 – To review federal opportunities
After you have significant past performance you will want to begin the process of getting a GSA Schedule
That is down the road. Additionally, there are services that provide you with daily state and local opportunities.
There is a monthly fee for those.
I wanted to throw my hat into the ring on this. I have a TS clearance and work for the fed down in DC. My previous agency farmed the background investigation portion of the clearance process out to a civilian firm. When I was hired for my current job, they ran a check to see if I had been in trouble since my last clearance was completed and did a very cursory security check to ensure my clearance was active.
That said, you have to look at the level of the background investigation that will be done on you. These firms have investigators that will call and or visit the contacts you put down as references in your application paperwork. I can tell you the focus is going to be on you and your history, as well as if you have any foreign relatives or contacts. Your husbands status as an ex-con should not damage your chances as long as he is "reformed" and you are not a criminal.
Hope that helps.
I agree with most of the previous posts, I have held many levels of clearances for the government and can tell you it will in fact effect your application, but if you are very upfront about it when you apply it should not negatively effect your application unless his conviction is for a crime that deals with either an act against an area that you are trying to get into for work or against the government itself.