How a Criminal Conviction Impacts Other Areas of Your Life
With even seemingly minor crimes, you could face serious penalties including heavy fines and a potentially lengthy jail sentence. In addition, your conviction will remain a part of your criminal record for the rest of your life. This can have long-reaching ramifications in other areas of your life.
When facing any type of criminal charges in New Jersey, it is important to get an experienced criminal defense attorney on your case immediately. Your attorney acts as a strong ally on your side, reviewing your charges, the procedures followed during your arrest, and the evidence that may be used against you. Avoiding a conviction is a top priority. Contact the Law Office of Jordan B. Rickards now to receive a consultation!
The Impact of a Criminal Conviction
Even if you are only charged with a crime, it will show up on your criminal record. This will be visible to anyone who cares to look. In addition to formal background checks and access through the New Jersey public records system, there are numerous other resources that allow others to see incidents that may have occurred in your past. Despite the fact that you may have been cleared of your charges, even the mere accusation of a crime can damage your reputation and may be used against you in a variety of scenarios.
If you have been charged and convicted in a criminal matter, the potential ramifications are even more severe. Criminal charges can work against for years into the future, hindering your prospects in personal, professional, and legal matters. Places where these impacts are likely to be most severe include:
- Employment screening: Many jobs only ask about felony convictions, meaning you do not have to disclose a misdemeanor on your application. However, any convictions will likely show up on a background check, which could influence hiring decisions.
- Holding public office: A criminal conviction may prevent you from holding certain public offices, whether they are on the local, state, or national level.
- Non-profit work: You may not be eligible to work with certain types of charities or nonprofits as a result of your criminal past.
- Educational aid: If you apply for financial aid for college or a trade school, certain types of criminal charges — such as those involving illegal drugs — could prevent you from obtaining grants or loans.
- Obtaining licenses: Having a criminal record could prevent you from taking full advantage of your driving privileges or prevent you from obtaining certain business licenses.
- Obtaining housing or personal loans: A criminal conviction can cause you to be denied certain types of loans and can hinder your approval on job applications.
- Family court proceedings: When you are involved in a divorce, child custody dispute, or adoption proceedings, a past criminal record can be used against you and could significantly impact your legal rights in these cases.
- Immigration proceedings: If you are in the country on a green card or are otherwise seeking legal status, a criminal conviction could hinder these efforts, depending on the charges involved.
If you are charged and convicted of a crime and complete the required sentencing imposed by the court, you may be entitled to get your criminal record expunged through the New Jersey court. This can help minimize the impact a conviction has on the above areas.
Get Our Middlesex Criminal Defense Attorneys on Your Side
Unfortunately, one of the most significant impacts of a criminal record is that it could make charges more severe in future criminal cases. To protect yourself, get the Law Office of Jordan B. Rickards on your side. We can help build the strong legal defense you need to avoid a conviction. Call or contact our Milltown criminal defense attorney online and request a consultation today.
