How Can a Criminal Record Affect Your Life?

Even a criminal conviction can complicate things and turn your life upside down. Even if you’re acquitted, mere involving yourself with the criminal justice system can be stressful. But the aftermath of a criminal conviction can have serious long-term consequences. Here are a few of them.

Employment

A criminal record could make it difficult for you to find a decent job. While employers cannot discriminate against potential candidates purely based on their criminal records, they can refuse employment if the record is related to the job. Similarly, some states require employers to check criminal records when hiring for businesses that engage with “vulnerable people.” Depending on the offense’s seriousness, you could even lose your professional license to practice a trade.

Limited Housing Options

Offenders with criminal records are considered unsuitable neighbors in many public housing facilities. Depending on the type of felony you have been convicted of, the Public Housing Agency can deny your public housing application. Similarly, landlords have the right to deny you housing if a background check reveals a felony. Your housing options are particularly limited if the offense involves sex crimes, drugs, violence, or crimes against children.

Loan and Mortgage Limitations

A criminal record can also hurt your chances of being approved for a mortgage loan. Lenders have the right to deny loans to people with criminal records. Naturally, past convictions have a considerable impact on your credibility and how lenders perceive your character. Even if they approve a loan, you will be considered a high-risk borrower. You may have to accept unfavorable loan terms like high-interest rates.

Reputation

Criminal charges impact reputations negatively. If you have been charged with a criminal offense, the allegations can lead to questioning of your reputation and credibility. Regardless of the crime committed, you will find that people act with more caution around you and exclude you from events and other social gatherings.

Loss of Voting Rights

The U.S. has a variety of rules when it comes to voting rights and felony convictions. In some states, citizens with a criminal conviction are barred from voting for life. In other states, when a person is convicted, they are barred from voting until they complete the prison sentence or parole. Due to the concern that our law deprives a large segment of citizens of access to vote, several states have made changes to give ex-felons their voting rights.

Loss of Driver’s License

Your criminal charge can affect your driver’s license. A valid driver’s license plays an essential role in many areas of your life. It lets you go to college, work, run errands, and take care of your family and friends. Unfortunately, a criminal conviction can result in driver’s license suspension when you’re facing a criminal charge. Hit and run crimes, drug-related charges, homicide by vehicle, and using a motor vehicle to commit felonies are a few charges that can result in the loss of your driver’s license.

Immigration Status

Under the American immigration law, being convicted of an aggravated felony will make an immigrant inadmissible to the country. However, not all criminal histories will make it impossible to get a green card. Aggravated felonies, crimes involving illegal drugs, and moral turpitude are the kinds of convictions that make it impossible to get a green card.

Don’t Let a Criminal Record Haunt Your Life

As a conviction can affect your life in many negative ways, it is important to minimize the charges on your record. If you have been convicted of a crime, you have several options for seeking relief from the criminal justice system. You can ask a high-level court to review your case for legal errors by filing an appeal to have the conviction overturned or the sentence reduced. Hire an experienced criminal appeals attorney to discuss your right to appeal your conviction and get it overturned. With the guidance of our skilled appeal attorney, you can get your life back on track.

Author Bio:

The author writes about criminal convictions and the justice system. He suggests you get the help of a skilled criminal appeal lawyer for effective representation in criminal appeals that result in the reduction or dismissal of criminal charges.