A criminal conviction for any crime will be problematic. There will always be some immediate consequences, and sometimes they alone are enough to turn your life upside down.
Even if the initial consequences are minor, you should never forget the collateral consequences that will follow and may be much longer-lasting. Here are three examples.
1. Harder to find employment
Employers will often run a background check on job applicants, and many of these checks are programmed to highlight a person’s criminal record. While some employers will look at the record in more detail, to see if it is relevant to the job the person is applying for, many just disregard all applicants flagged as having criminal records.
2. Potential custody problems
A criminal record may sometimes influence a judge called upon to make custody decisions, especially if the charges were related to alcohol, drugs or violence. A conviction can also lead child welfare agencies to increase their surveillance of the whole family.
3. Threats to immigration status
Immigration authorities look at criminal records when assessing applications, renewals and whether to try and remove someone from the country. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be feeling that your immigration status is less secure than it once was. Even those who are citizens may be starting to worry, with talk of the current administration wanting to deport fully fledged citizens they consider undesirable.
The singular best way to avoid such collateral consequences is to beat the charges you face. Learning more about what options you might have to do this should be a priority if you face charges of any sort.