Facing criminal charges can be a stressful situation, as the criminal process tends to be confusing and intimidating.
While you are thinking about the immediate consequences that come with a potential criminal conviction, having a criminal record can also impact your future life and livelihood.
Here’s what you should know about the long-term effects of having a criminal record.
Limiting your career
Checking your criminal record is part of the application process for many jobs. While some may only consider a criminal record as one of many factors, there are other jobs that tend to be off limits for someone with a criminal history, such as:
- Teacher
- Law enforcement
- Attorney
- Finance
Although some professions will ban those with a criminal history entirely, others only limit their restrictions to crimes that are directly relevant to the position. Before you give up on a particular path, you should consult with others in the field about their specific limitations.
Limitation of freedoms and privileges
Depending on your record, some freedoms stop being available to you. For example, if you have a felony conviction on your record, you can no longer purchase or own a firearm. Additionally, you also cannot live in a dwelling where someone keeps their guns.
Also, while you only lose your voting rights while incarcerated in Indiana, other states include periods of parole, probation or some other waiting period.
These long-term consequences can have a devastating impact on your life. You should talk to a skilled professional about your situation and what options are available.