I think it would be a need to know......basis.
When I used to be interviewed I would try to be honest, and upfront thinking I NEEDED to tell everyone, everything because eventually they would find out anyway right? Yeah....not really.
When I got hired where I am now? I simply said "I may from time to time need some time off to deal with appointments for my son - he's a special needs kid." That seemed to be acceptable. In a bosses mind who would be such a crud to not give a Mom time to deal with Special Needs. When asked WHAT special needs I said "Nothing that should interfere with my work performance, just the occasional doctors appointment." I didn't again, give out much information.
I was told in an boss' mind? If you say words like son/trouble/court/police/po/probation.....they equate that with you WHETHER they tell YOU that or not. They will of course be sympathetic to your face, but if you could be a fly on the wall at lunch with them and their buddies, it would be a different story. It would be "I interviewed this woman who told me all about her son and his problems and he's a felon and she wasn't even hired and I'm thinking JEEEZ if the kids a felon where did the Mom do time?" ---promise, cause I was in the next booth listening to that conversation.
SO practice your interview skills, shorten your answers about your life and practice - get a routine and hone it so you have SPOT ON answers to give - almost like robotic answers. Be prepared. Not natural.
Hope this helps.
