A criminal conviction comes with several different penalties. When you are facing one, your thoughts might turn to the sentence the court could hand down. While this is a big factor in your case, there are other possible penalties and consequences that you may face.
Understanding how a criminal conviction can impact you means that you need to take a look at your specific circumstances. The way that a conviction affects one person might not be the same for another person, even if the case is similar. Here are some questions to consider if you are facing a criminal charge:
What is your stance on gun ownership?
If you are an avid gun owner, there is a good chance that a criminal conviction will affect you considerably. Felons in this country aren’t able to carry firearms or legally own them. Texas law and federal law are much different when it comes to gun ownership after a felony. One thing to remember is that federal law strictly forbids felons from having a gun. If you are caught with a firearm that is legal under state law, you could still face charges under federal law.
What is your status in the country?
Immigrants face some harsh consequences for criminal convictions of all sorts. The ever-changing policies and laws surrounding immigration mean that just because a conviction doesn’t impact you today doesn’t mean it won’t tomorrow. The worst case scenario is that you can face being deported on the grounds of unsuitable moral turpitude if you are convicted. People who aren’t in the country legally will almost certainly face deportation. Fighting the removal from this country can be difficult, so be prepared for the battle.
What type of job do you have?
Some employers won’t allow people with criminal convictions to remain employees. People in some industries, such as the service industry or construction, might not be impacted by this as much as someone who is in the education field or our offices. Ultimately, there is a chance that you will have to find a new career, but it can prove to be challenging.
What options do I have to fight these effects?
One of the best things that you can do is to find out if you can have your case dismissed. This could be possible, but you should still work on a defense until the dismissal is finished because you never know what is going to happen. In the event you can’t get the charges dismissed, you should explore options to reduce the classification of the conviction as part of a plea deal.