§ 147.13 Guideline K – Security violations.

Quick Answer: What This Section Does

§ 147.13 (Guideline K) evaluates whether an individual’s failure to follow security procedures raises concerns about their ability to safeguard classified information.

It focuses on:

• mishandling classified information
• unauthorized disclosures
• repeated or negligent violations
• compliance with security protocols
• reliability in handling sensitive material

👉 In practice, this guideline is not about whether a mistake occurred—it is about whether the mistake reflects risk.

Readers looking for a deeper, strategy-focused analysis can explore how adjudicators evaluate these cases in the Guideline K security violations breakdown.

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What This Means in Practice

Most applicants assume security violations are judged based on:

• whether classified information was actually compromised
• whether the violation caused harm
• whether it was “serious”

That is not how this guideline operates.

Adjudicators are not asking:

👉 “Was damage done?”

They are asking:

👉 “Can this person be trusted to follow security rules consistently?”

That distinction matters.

Because the concern is not the outcome.

It is whether the behavior:

• shows poor attention to security requirements
• reflects negligence or disregard for rules
• suggests repeat risk
• undermines trust in handling classified information

This is part of the broader evaluation framework explained in the security clearance adjudication process and how risk is assessed across cases.

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How This Guideline Is Actually Used

Guideline K is evaluated through patterns, intent, and reliability—not just isolated violations.

Adjudicators look for:

• repeated security violations
• whether violations were deliberate or negligent
• failure to follow procedures after training
• understanding of security responsibilities
• corrective action taken

The issue is not:

👉 whether a mistake occurred

It is:

👉 whether the mistake reflects ongoing risk

These issues often arise during the background investigation or incident reporting process, which is explained in the security clearance investigation process and how records are developed before adjudication.

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Full Text of § 147.13

§ 147.13 Guideline K – Security violations.

(a) The concern. Noncompliance with security regulations raises doubt about an individual’s trustworthiness, willingness, and ability to safeguard classified information.

(b) Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include.

1. Unauthorized disclosure of classified information;
2. Violations that are deliberate or multiple or due to negligence.

(c) Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include actions that:

1. Were inadvertent;
2. Were isolated or infrequent;
3. Were due to improper or inadequate training;
4. Demonstrate a positive attitude towards the discharge of security responsibilities.

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How This Section Fits Into the Clearance Process

Guideline K is part of the framework used to evaluate eligibility under the security clearance adjudicative guidelines that govern all clearance decisions.

It is typically triggered when:

• a security incident is reported
• classified information is mishandled
• improper storage or transmission is identified
• internal investigations reveal noncompliance

These concerns may later be formalized in a security clearance Statement of Reasons outlining the government’s concerns about reliability and compliance.

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Why This Matters for Your Case

This guideline reflects a critical principle:

👉 security violations are not about mistakes—they are about trust

Two individuals can make similar errors:

• one is approved
• one is denied

Because adjudicators are evaluating:

• whether the issue was isolated
• whether the person understands the seriousness
• whether corrective action was taken
• whether future compliance can be trusted

To understand how to address these concerns effectively, see the security clearance mitigation strategy guide explaining how to build a defensible record.

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Where Security Violation Cases Often Go Wrong

Most Guideline K cases become difficult when:

• violations repeat over time
• behavior is minimized or dismissed
• training is ignored or misunderstood
• corrective actions are not documented
• responsibility is not accepted

From the applicant’s perspective:

👉 “It was just a mistake”

From the system’s perspective:

👉 “Will this happen again?”

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How This Guideline Interacts With Others

Security violations often overlap with:

• honesty and disclosure issues under Guideline E personal conduct and credibility concerns
• broader behavioral concerns under Guideline J criminal conduct and reliability analysis

Because violations may reflect:

• judgment
• reliability
• compliance behavior

Once issues overlap:

👉 the case becomes more complex and harder to mitigate

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Related Statutes and Guidance

Readers can review the full regulatory framework in the Security Clearance Statutes and Regulations resource hub, or explore how the system works from start to finish in the Security Clearance Lawyers resource center.

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What Actually Wins Clearance Cases

Most people read these rules looking for a clear answer.

They assume:

👉 “If I meet the standard, I should be approved.”

That’s not how this system works.

These regulations don’t decide your case.

👉 They’re used to justify the decision after it’s made.

What actually drives the outcome is:

• how your record is written
• how risk is framed under the guideline
• whether the file supports approval

That’s why two people with similar facts can get different results.

👉 The difference isn’t the rule—it’s how the case is built under it.

If you want to understand how to actually win a clearance case, including how to structure mitigation and avoid credibility issues, read our guide on how to win a security clearance case using proven mitigation and record-control strategies.

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Why Insight Into the System Matters

Security clearance decisions are not made in a vacuum.

They are made by:

• adjudicators
• administrative judges
• agency decision-makers
• reviewers who rely on the written record

Understanding how these individuals evaluate risk, credibility, and mitigation is not theoretical—it is structural.

At National Security Law Firm, our security clearance lawyers include attorneys who have worked:

• as administrative judges and adjudicators responsible for deciding clearance cases
• inside federal agencies evaluating whether individuals should be approved or denied
• within military legal systems handling sensitive national security matters
• in roles directly applying the adjudicative guidelines to real-world cases

Our cases are not handled by a single attorney working in isolation.

They are reviewed through our internal Attorney Review Board, where multiple experienced attorneys analyze the record, test arguments, and refine strategy before submission.

This mirrors how the government evaluates cases—through layered review and institutional scrutiny.

Clients often come to us after receiving advice that focuses only on:

• legal arguments
• explanations of past conduct

But security clearance cases are not decided that way.

They are decided based on:

👉 how the record will be read, reused, and defended by decision-makers

That is the difference between a response that explains—and a record that supports approval.

You can read what clients say about their experience working with our team in our 4.9-star Google reviews, which reflect both outcomes and the level of strategic guidance we provide throughout the process.

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Speak With a Security Clearance Lawyer Before Issues Escalate

The most important question is not:

👉 “Did I make a mistake?”

It is:

👉 “Does my record show that this issue is resolved and will not happen again?”

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The Record Controls the Case.