Public Drunkeness and Disorderly Conduct in Pennsylvania

[eaglesnoles]

Hello,
I received a public drunkeness and disorderly conduct this past week and had a couple questions.

1- I'm currently employed. When I had my interview for this job I told my interviewer about a previous disorderly conduct I got a couple of years ago. He said it wasn't a big deal, and I ended up getting the job. But now that I have the job, do I need to tell my HR boss about what happened this week?

2- I'm not positive, but I don't think these charges are misdemeanors, I think their just summary offenses? So will that forever be on my record? And when I say record I mean the record that employers might see if they did a background check?

Thanks in advance.

[retdetsgt]

You are not under any legal obligation to tell your employer, however the employer may have a policy regarding that.

Someone from PA will have to answer your second question, but I would imagine so.

2nd Dis Con in two years though???

[eaglesnoles]

retdetsgt,

Thanks for the response. I'm sorry it wasn't my 2nd Dis Con in 2 years. It was actually my 1st, but it was my 2nd Pub Drunkenes.. That may even be worse, I'm not sure. It's really unfortunate. I refuse to drink and drive, yet I guess when I'm drinking I completely forget that people get paid to give transportation (cabs,etc.) So both times I end up walking home and being an idiot basically.

One more question. I realize you're not farmiliar with PA law. But let's just say this was a misdemeanor, or better yet let's say it was a felony. Would I still not necessarily have to tell my superior, if of course it's not an obvious policy for the company.

Thanks again.

[Blackgoat06]

Hello,
I received a public drunkeness and disorderly conduct this past week and had a couple questions.

1- I'm currently employed. When I had my interview for this job I told my interviewer about a previous disorderly conduct I got a couple of years ago. He said it wasn't a big deal, and I ended up getting the job. But now that I have the job, do I need to tell my HR boss about what happened this week?

2- I'm not positive, but I don't think these charges are misdemeanors, I think their just summary offenses? So will that forever be on my record? And when I say record I mean the record that employers might see if they did a background check?

Thanks in advance.

Like RDS said, as for number one that's up to your employer and its policies.

As for #2, disorderly conduct can be a misdemeanor but it likely wasn't. Public drunkenness is always a summary. If you were issued non traffic citations or told you would be receiving them in the mail then the disorderly conduct is also a summary, which would be my guess. Anything charged via a non traffic citation is a summary offense. If it's a misdemeanor or worse the charges will come on a criminal complaint.

Summary offenses do not show up on a criminal record in and of themselves, but PA is very public and you could retrieve the records very easily.

I'm not one to preach but it sounds like you need to get your drinking under control...