Being convicted of a crime can be stressful for many reasons, but many people wonder how a criminal record can impact their future. If you have a criminal record that you’re not proud of, you’re probably looking for solutions. Read on to learn more about criminal records and to find out how a Nassau County criminal defense lawyer can help you.
How can a criminal record impact my finances?
A criminal history can impact you financially from the moment you’re charged with a crime. There are legal fees as well as a possible fine for the crime. If convicted, having a criminal record makes it difficult to get or keep a well-paying job. Because employers are legally allowed to perform background checks on applicants, employers may question you about your criminal history and can reject you based on your record. If you have a job at the time that you’re convicted of a crime, you could even lose your job, depending on the crime.
How else can a criminal conviction affect my life?
There are many other aspects of your life that could be significantly impacted by a criminal record. For example, if you have a criminal record, you may be ineligible to adopt a child. If you already have a child, you could lose custody as a result of your conviction, depending on the crime. You could be also expelled from a university for a criminal conviction. If applying to colleges, trade schools, or military academies, you could be denied based on your criminal history. You could even be denied housing if attempting to rent property, which affects not just you but anyone you’re planning on living with. If charged with a DUI, you could lose your driver’s license.
Can a criminal record be erased?
Expungement is a legal term for the erasure of convictions from your record. Unfortunately, expungement is not possible in the state of New York. However, New York courts allow certain crimes to be “sealed”. This basically means that the conviction is still technically on your criminal record but not public knowledge, so it can’t be used against you if applying to jobs, apartments, etc. Whether or not you can get a conviction sealed depends on the crime committed, the time since the crime, and how many convictions are on your record. Serious crimes are usually not eligible to be sealed. Because complete expungement is not an option in New York, it’s important to hire a seasoned criminal defense lawyer immediately after being charged with a crime. For quality criminal defense counseling, contact The Law Office of Jacob A. Rudman today.
