Visiting Someone in Prison while BI being conducted

[mjohns2]

I am currently in backgrounds with two departments. With that said, I have a relative in prison. I know, at least I think, my relative should not cause any problems with my background investigation, but what if i go visit him?
Would visiting a relative in prison have any kind of negative impact on my background investigation?

[phantasm]

It could, but your best bet is to be honest.

If it's a parent or sibling it's probably a little easier to explain the visits then if it's your 2nd cousin on your brother's side.

[Ken K]

I am currently in backgrounds with two departments. With that said, I have a relative in prison. I know, at least I think, my relative should not cause any problems with my background investigation, but what if i go visit him?
Would visiting a relative in prison have any kind of negative impact on my background investigation?

Let me assume you have visited him in the past, and plan to after you are an officer. If you disclosed this relationship for your BI, then how could visiting him now hurt anything?

[mjohns2]

I've never visited my/this relative, to be honest the last time i seen a correction facility was when I was about 13 (my father (pastor) took me, talk about scared straight). If anything I just starting writing this person when I found out that not too many people wrote to this person. I don't see how this could affect me, but looking at the questionaire I'm suppose to fill out, i don't know.

[phantasm]

How close of a relative? From what it sounds it wasn't someone who you had contact with, and you initiated contact after incarceration. Why did you initiate contact after incarceration after X years of no contact? At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to pursue a LE career, and at what point in your life did you decide you wanted to make contact with this incarcerated individual?

[cruzmisl]

Hmmm, I don't think it's a bad idea that you visit now but I don't think it can help especially since you hadn't in the past. The bottom line is if this is someone close to you the BI will know about it anyway.

Nobody writes him/her? So what? If you were so concerned about him/her you would have had continous contact prior to your application. Why the guilty conscience now?

Your relative is playing on the wrong team. You could argue the point for/against but me personally I wouldn't create any waves or questions. Didn't visit before, don't start now.

[Piggy]

I agree with cruzmisl, I worked for a PD in the past where you could get terminated for associating with undisireable people. I don't remember the policy word for word as it didn't really effect me, but I don't know how it related to family. All I know is if you starting hanging out with dirtbags for some reason, you were out of a job. If whoever this person is, will be locked up for a while, best to get the job and make it through your probation period. He's already ruined his life, don't let him ruin yours.

[mjohns2]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll just stay away, at least till I get my foot in the door and I'm able to speak more freely about this.

Again I thank everyone for their suggestions