How Can a Past Criminal Record Affect Your Life?

Have you recently been charged with a crime? If yes, you must leave no stone unturned to prove the charge wrong in the court. That’s because if you don’t succeed in doing so, your life will not be the same again. What’s worse is that the changes taking place following your conviction will only make your life worse.

The only way you can prevent such events is by hiring a reputable Rochester criminal attorney. A competent and experienced criminal lawyer will assist you in getting the charges dropped. If that’s not possible due to the evidence collected against you, the attorney will ensure that the court reduces the charges significantly.

Not hiring a lawyer will leave you in serious trouble and you may face issues in the following areas. 

Employment  

Individuals with a history of criminal conviction find it extremely difficult to get a good job. All employers (barring a few exceptions) have the legal right to make job applicants undergo background checks. If a check reveals that the person applying for employment has been convicted in the past, most companies will decide against hiring him or her.

You may also come across employers who will directly ask you whether you have faced any convictions including felonies and misdemeanors. Lying is not an option as the background check will reveal the truth sooner or later.

Child Custody 

A criminal record can reduce your chances of getting custody of your child considerably. Your situation will be even grimmer if the charges involved violent acts such as domestic abuse. However, statistics acquired during recent times suggest that even misdemeanors can be responsible for one’s loss in the battle for child custody. This happens mostly when the crime in question harms the family.

Child Adoption 

A past conviction can also make it difficult for you to adopt a child. Things are usually worse for people who have been convicted of a crime or misdemeanor involving the family. Crimes involving alcohol or drug abuse can also prevent you from adopting a child. Your dream to adopt can come to an end if you help a child to gain access to firearms and get convicted for the act.

Immigration 

Are you a foreign national living in this country? Then also, you should put in your best efforts to ensure that you don’t have any criminal record. That’s because a past criminal record can stop you from getting the much-awaited green card. In other words, you’ll not be able to change your immigration status to become a citizen of the US if you get convicted of a crime. What’s more, if the situation is not managed intelligently, you may also end up losing your job and get deported.

Leasing and Renting 

Most responsible landlords carry out background checks before making a tenant sign the tenancy contract. Thus, a previous conviction can also make it difficult for you to get a home on rent or lease.

Final Words 

Hiring a top defense lawyer will ensure that the charges brought against you don’t stain your life. The professional will also guide you on things that would on ways of reducing charges if complete acquittal is not possible.