Posted in Legal News
Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you’re up against criminal charges, understand that your conviction could follow you for the rest of your life. Criminal charges do not just affect your criminal record. They can affect a variety of areas in your life as a lawyer, like a criminal defense lawyer from a law firm like Tuttle Law, P.A., can explain. The following are just five areas that a criminal conviction can impact.
College Enrollment
Some colleges and graduate schools look closely at your criminal record. They may decline admission based on a misdemeanor. More serious charges may make it even more difficult to be admitted to college. For some colleges, these policies are based on the type of charge. In addition, your funding could be kept away from you for certain charges. For example, if you have federal funding, you may lose it if you have a drug-related or sexual offense on your record.
Employment
Even if you are acquitted, a charge on your criminal record can affect your employment. It can reduce your earning potential and some employers may deny your application. Prospective employees typically have the right to look into your criminal history. Sometimes an employer will ask you outright if you have any charges or convictions. If asked, you need to be honest. However, you do not have to disclose arrests that did not result in a conviction or misdemeanors that you had removed from your record.
Immigration
If you have hopes of living outside of the country, a criminal conviction could make that difficult, if not impossible. When you have a criminal record, you may not receive a green card or change your immigration status. It is important to think about your record before you think about immigrating.
Renting and Leasing
Your ability to rent or lease a place could be in jeopardy if you have a criminal record. After a conviction, a landlord could refuse to rent to you. Generally, this counts if the conviction happened within a certain number of years. However, for sexual assault and convictions of that nature, it doesn’t matter how much time passes.
Firearms
When you are convicted of a felony, you could lose your right to carry a firearm. In some states, Class A misdemeanor can also restrict your right to carry a gun. You may not be able to receive a license to carry a firearm.
Instead of facing criminal charges on your own, consult with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will understand how important your record is and will fight for you.
