Summary
A 31-year-old technical writer for a defense contractor was granted a security clearance despite concerns under Guidelines F (Financial Considerations), G (Alcohol Consumption), and J (Criminal Conduct). The applicant had accumulated 24 delinquent debts totaling over $21,000, including two adverse judgments for $816 and $504 each. Additionally, her personal financial statement initially showed a negative monthly net remainder of $239.
The applicant also faced issues related to a March 2009 DUI arrest. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years probation, fined, ordered to pay $1,975 in restitution, served five days in jail (with credit for one day), participated in a work release program, and completed a three-month alcohol educational program and an aftercare program for first offenders.
The judge ultimately granted the clearance, finding that the applicant had made substantial progress. She repaid over $5,000 of her delinquent debts since returning to full-time employment, demonstrated good faith efforts to resolve her financial issues, and now maintains a positive monthly net remainder. Furthermore, the DUI incident was deemed isolated, and she significantly reduced her alcohol consumption following the event.
Why the Applicant Prevailed
- Applicant repaid over $5,000 of delinquent debts since returning to full-time employment.
- Applicant demonstrated good faith efforts to resolve financial issues and has a positive monthly net remainder.
- The applicant's DUI incident was isolated, and she has significantly reduced her alcohol consumption since.
Conditions Referenced
- DC ¶ 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- DC ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- DC ¶ 22(a)raisedAlcohol-related Incidents Away From Work
- DC ¶ 31(a)raisedA Single Serious Crime or Multiple Lesser Offenses
- DC ¶ 31(d)raisedIndividual Is Currently on Parole or Probation
- MC ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions That Resulted in the Behavior Were Largely Beyond the Person’s Control
- MC ¶ 20(d)appliedIndividual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors
- MC ¶ 20(e)appliedIndividual Has a Reasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due Debt
- MC ¶ 22(a)appliedSo Much Time Has Passed or the Behavior Was so Infrequent That It Is Unlikely to Recur
- MC ¶ 32(a)appliedSo Much Time Has Elapsed Since the Criminal Behavior Happened That It Is Unlikely to Recur
Key Rule Quoted
“The adjudicative process is designed to examine a sufficient period of an applicant’s life to enable predictive judgments to be made about whether the applicant is an acceptable security risk.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJan 22, 2010
- Answer filedFeb 12, 2010
- Hearing heldJul 1, 2010
- Decision dateJul 20, 2010
Cite For
- Mitigation of Financial Concerns Under Guideline F
- Rebuttable Presumption of Responsible Alcohol Consumption Under Guideline G
- Consideration of Extenuating Circumstances in Criminal Conduct Under Guideline J