Can an employer in Texas deny you employment based on Criminal History?

[Texas-TAO]

I am curious to know whether or not an employer in the State of Texas can legally and rightfully deny you employment based on your background check. Before you say yes, let me throw something out there in which will make you think a bit more in detail.

Say for example, the application asks whether or not you've ever been CONVICTED or PLEAD GUILTY to a crime and you put NO and when they run your background check comes back, it shows your criminal history along with the fact that you plead guilty.

However, you never were convicted of the crime due to the fact you took Deferred Adjudication and successfully completed it and the charge was dismissed by the court.

Based on this information, can they deny you employment?

I would suggest you ask the DA and lawyer that handled the case how you should answer given your status--but deferred adjudication is normally not a conviction.

[Texas-TAO]

I would like to update everyone here that the TAJLR website has been updated and can be seen and found at TAJLR - Home (Deferred Adjudication) and that we now have a video up on YouTube explaining the problem with Deferred Adjudication in Texas. To watch this video feel free to visit : YouTube - Texans Trapped Video . Thanks!