Being charged with a criminal offense can leave you on edge. This is understandable given the stakes involved. But before you engage with prosecutors to discuss the possibility of a plea deal, you need to fully understand the potential ramifications of a criminal conviction. That’s the only way to make the fully informed decision that you think is right for you.
What penalties accompany a criminal conviction?
Some penalties that come with a criminal conviction are obvious, but some long-term consequences may not be as readily apparent. All of them are important, though, as they can have tremendous ramification for a long time to come. So, let’s take a look at some of the penalties that you may be facing if you’re convicted on the charges that have been levied against you:
- Incarceration: This is usually top of mind for those who have been accused of criminal wrongdoing. Depending on the criminal offenses you’re accused of committing, the amount of incarceration that you’re facing may be significant. And any amount of incarceration threatens to strip you from your family and your normal life, which can be crushing to think about.
- Financial penalties: Many criminal convictions come with hefty fines and court-ordered restitution that can be extraordinarily expensive. It can take a long time to pay these financial penalties, too, which means that your financial stability may be rocked for a long time to come.
- Employment issues: Merely being charged with a criminal offense may be enough for you to be fired from your job. But a conviction can leave a mark on your criminal record that may make it challenging for you to secure new employment. This, in turn, can impact your ability to find financial security, perhaps even for years to come.
- Housing problems: Many housing complexes run background checks before agreeing to lease to a tenant. If you have a criminal record, especially one involving felony offenses, then you may be denied the housing that you seek, and your housing options might be significantly limited. This could leave you with less than desirable housing.
- Damage to your reputation: Information about a criminal conviction can spread quickly. This means that your standing in the community can be diminished hastily, which may leave you facing scrutiny that you never wanted and never expected.
- Family law consequences: A criminal conviction may also impact your family law matters, especially child custody. For example, your child’s other parent may use your conviction to restrict your time with your children. You may even be prevented from contacting your children depending on the facts surrounding your conviction.
These are just some of the penalties that you may be facing if you end up being convicted of criminal wrongdoing. We don’t highlight these potential penalties to scare you but rather to highlight the importance of adequately defending your interests. If you create a haphazard defense approach, then you could end up being punished more than you ever expected.
Consider seeking legal assistance
With so much at stake, it’s a good idea to seek out an aggressive legal advocate who is ready to fight to protect your freedom and your future. But not all criminal defense attorneys are created equally. That’s why it’s important that you fully vet your representation options and choose the one that you think is best suited to successfully argue your case. With one of these advocates on your side, hopefully you’ll be able to beat the charges levied against you or at least minimize the damage caused by a conviction.
So, if you want to know more about what an attorney can do to support you in these matters, please consider reaching out to discuss the facts of your case more in-depth.