3 Key Ways Criminal Charges and Convictions Can Impact Your Family

Criminal charges can have long-lasting effects on the individual who was charged and their loved ones. Any charge, from misdemeanor to felony, can have a major impact on your life. However, more serious charges will carry more weight. For example, an employer may still be willing to hire someone with a misdemeanor in their record if it was for a crime that the company doesn’t feel is severe enough to block a person from working there.

Education

There are many ways that a criminal charge and conviction can affect your education. You can face any one or a number of the following consequences:

• Being denied admission
• Being denied a scholarship or financial aid
• Inability to find on-campus housing or job
• Being placed on probation

Keep in mind that your college or university may have a Code of Conduct, or Student Handbook, or some other policy that will require you to go before a judiciary board, usually consisting of fellow students, and administrators. Even if your criminal charges are dropped, the university or college may decide to deny you access to certain locations on campus or to participate in certain events, or suspend your enrollment.

Child Custody

At first you might lose your custody rights, but with the right attorney, it is possible for you to regain some or all of them with time. If the crime did not involve your child nor was sex-related, and if a sufficient amount of time has passed since the crime, then you may have a higher chance of restoring your custody rights.

Employment

It is an employer’s right to deny you employment if they find criminal charges during your background check. Jobs in fields such as healthcare, education, and almost all government jobs will have more stringent standards due to the nature of the work. For example, a child abuse charge would certainly prevent you from working with kids. However, it’s important not to lie about any criminal charges on your application. If you emphasize how you’ve changed and grown since your arrest, and what lesson you learned from the experience, then you may have a better chance of getting the job you want. Some employers only check back 7 years, and some check your entire history.

Other Considerations For Criminal Charges

There are a variety of other ways that your life can be impacted by a criminal charge, depending on your unique circumstances. For example, if you are not a U.S. citizen, then your immigration status may be affected by your charge and depending on the severity of the charge. If you have an outstanding application to change your immigration status, that may be denied.

You must also think about how this charge could affect subsequent charges in the future. The next time you are arrested and charged, your criminal history will most likely play a part in determining what consequences you receive, especially if the subsequent crime occurs within a short time frame after the first charge.

Why You Need A Criminal Defense Attorney

With all of these potential outcomes, it’s important to have a strong legal defense team fighting for you. You want a dedicated lawyer, such as the ones you will find at strolenylaw.com, who also has a proven track record of success. Call for your consultation, and to talk about your specific circumstances and concerns.