Is A Person Obligated to Disclose Their Criminal Charges and Arrest Record If They Were Never Convicted?
It depends almost entirely on who is asking, and why. For instance, Government workers and contractors often have important and sensitive jobs requiring Security Clearances which, in turn, require them to self-report any criminal traffic or traditional criminal charges.
On certain applications, such as business licenses or apartment rental applications, it depends on exactly what is asked on the application. If the question is, “Have you ever been charged, arrested or convicted of any criminal offense?”, or, “Have you been arrested for any criminal offense?”, then you have to answer “Yes” if any of these actions apply to you, but, if the entity for which you are applying does not ask you any of these questions, then you have no duty to disclose or volunteer the information of a criminal charge.
TO LIE OR NOT TO LIE ABOUT YOUR CRIMINAL CHARGE AND ARREST
Remember, you always have to tell the truth, but you do not have to tell everything that is true, but if you must answer a question, or choose to voluntarily, then you always need to tell the truth.