i had felony charges expunged from my record. when applying for a job for police/fire do i have to answer yes when it asks on the applicatin if i have ever been charged with a felony?

Are you certain it was expunged, ie, do you have something from the court?

Regardless, it may be in your best interest to disclose it and explain the circumstances. Government entities certainly have access to such information and if found, but you failed to disclose then the hiring team will likely look unfavorably on that.

Also, make sure the question is "have you ever been charged"? Some will say "have you ever been convicted", which is a totally different issue.

Alabama HR.

"Charges" are not expunged. They are dismissed. Convictions may be expunged, and that generates a court order, or at least a finding by a court, and that record may be sealed. Or not. If the question is whether or not one was charged, the charges stand regardless of a finding of guilt or not. If one was convicted, and expunged, there were still charges, although there may not be a record of a conviction.

If one answers "no" to the question of charges, one should be sure there were no charges filed.

Texas709 splits hairs, by his/her own admission, but makes a very good point. It is that very point that persuades me to say that I would be very surprised if the inquiry was into charges as opposed to convictions.

I would be very surprised if the inquiry was into charges as opposed to convictions.

Could be, and maybe should be. However, I spent my formative years as a fed, and believe that there is a tendency of governmental employers to be somewhat slow to adopt the idea that convictions matter, but charges dont. In other words, rjc, do you think a police/fire department might be interested in whether any of their applicants have "beaten" felony charges?

jackalini, you know the situation. What is the employer asking?

In other words, rjc, do you think a police/fire department might be interested in whether any of their applicants have "beaten" felony charges?

Well, I would not be shocked, but I would be surprised. It would be interesting if the application for prospective police/fire employee was different than other municipal employees.

Any input jackalini?

The applications are quite different for police and firefighters. I know, I work for a large municipal government.