Episode 25 Summary – CFD Podcast: Guideline J

In this episode, Tabetha Baume explains Guideline J: Criminal Conduct, emphasizing that a criminal history does not automatically disqualify someone from a security clearance. What matters most is honest disclosure, time passed, and demonstrated rehabilitation.

Through real case examples, she shows how adjudicators evaluate everything from DUIs and juvenile records to dismissed charges and felonies, and why failure to disclose is often more damaging than the offense itself. Her key takeaway: mistakes can be mitigated, but dishonesty creates serious clearance risk.