While deployed in Kuwait, Rosales, a member of the Texas Army National Guard, threw a birthday party for her husband. Some of the guests allegedly brought alcohol, according to the Army, “in a nation where such substances are illegal.” She was investigated and fingerprinted by an Army investigator, but received nothing more than an administrative reprimand.

But here’s the problem: Every branch of the military shares titling records in criminal databases with more than two dozen agencies, including the FBI, even if the case was dropped.

The fallout can be devastating because the records are retrievable for decades. Veterans can be passed over for promotions, rejected on apartment applications, and denied firearms clearance, advocates say. With the stain on their record, some struggle to get a job for years.

“Who will take my word over the plain text of the FBI’s criminal history?” Rosales, 39, asks in an affidavit in her lawsuit.

  • protist@mander.xyz
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    16 hours ago

    I doubt this has to do with run-of-the-mill housing applications. I bet this is in regards to VA-specific housing programs

    • fonix232@fedia.io
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      5 hours ago

      Even if it is… You’d seriously deny a vet housing because they had an investigation opened against them, that, again, was closed without further action?

      • socphoenix@midwest.social
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        3 hours ago

        Many places (jobs and housing) will say anything on a record is enough if it’s potentially worse than a parking ticket basically.

      • fonix232@fedia.io
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        5 hours ago

        Sounds like at this point if you want to kill someone, it’s enough to report them to the police.

        They either get swatted or the investigation opened will make life impossible enough for them to commit suicide…