Can a perspective employer disqualify me from the job I'm applying for based on something that happened over 33 years ago?

Question

Can a perspective employer disqualify me from the job I'm applying for based on something that happened over 33 years ago?

Anonymous Jul 23, 2015 3 views 3 answers

I was applying for a police job. I had completely gone thru all of the exhaustive hiring process successfully and supplied everything they wanted. They call me after giving me a conditional offer of employment and ask me about a shoplifting charge that happened when I was 14 years old that I had completely forgot about. I didn't even know there was a charge. They asked me to provide documentation regarding same. After calling numerous municipalities, none such documentation exists this many years later. I repeatedly call to explain this to them and leave messages. No calls returned. A few weeks of this goes by and I send an email to a supervisor at the department, and get finally get a response saying they are discontinuing the hiring process.

Arthur Forman · Accepted Answer · 2026-06-15T15:32:11+00:00

I recommend you consult with an employment attorney to discuss filing a civil service appeal, a discrimination charge with NYS Division of Human Rights or what is known as an Article 78 appeal.

Jeffrey Gold · Accepted Answer · 2026-06-15T15:32:11+00:00

Until last year, I was a civil service commissioner in a downstate county. Ordinarily one would not be disqualified for a shoplifting arrest when you were 14 years old. More likely, you were disqualified for not answering truthfully on the employment questionnaire regarding the charges. You ordinarily have the right to appeal with your County's Secret Service commission, and must do that prior to filing an Article 78. The ods are stacked against you, but are not impossible.

Can a perspective employer disqualify me from the job I'm applying for based on something that happened over 33 years ago?

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