It is no surprise that criminal activity can lead to a prison sentence, high fines and legal fees. These are the natural consequences of receiving a conviction. Sometimes they can seem like no big deal, especially to repeat offenders.
If you only focus on these effects, however, you may overlook the ways a conviction can hurt other areas of your life. Once you understand the complete ramifications of facing criminal charges, you will understand the importance of having a qualified defense attorney represent you so you can avoid them.
Professional life
Depending on your employer, getting so much as an arrest or accusations of illegal behavior can cause you to lose your job. A conviction almost always leads to termination, especially if you have to go to prison. You can also lose any professional licensure you have, and your criminal record can make it difficult to find new employment. Even with cleared charges, potential employers may not trust you or want to risk hiring you.
Financial life
Are you on or applying for welfare in Texas? Do you need financial aid for education or a loan for other purposes? A conviction complicates these financial matters. In addition, the monetary penalties and legal expenses can wipe out your savings. If you also experience problems finding work, you may end up having to file for bankruptcy or other debt relief methods.
Citizen life
You deserve a roof over your head no matter what you have done. Unfortunately, landlords may not think the same when they perform a background check on you, making it challenging to find a home. Also, you can lose the right to vote (and thus prevent you from trying to elect candidates who advocate for changes to criminal justice laws), serve on a jury, or live in the U.S. if you are not a citizen.
Personal life
Charges or a conviction may also damage your personal relationships. Depending on the nature of your crime, you may lose custody of your children. All these consequences are serious, so speak to a lawyer today on how to mitigate them.
