How a Criminal Conviction Can Impact Your Life
When you’re facing a criminal charge, it’s imperative to contact our MD criminal offenses attorney. Individuals accused of crimes usually focus on staying out of jail and feel tremendous relief when they manage to avoid this outcome. Unfortunately, they fail to recognize that a criminal conviction can lead to other complications, whether they serve jail time.
- The Public Record
A criminal conviction can remain in the public record indefinitely, though not necessarily for first-time offenders. A person who seeks to expunge or seal a record of a criminal conviction must file a petition, appeal in court, serve a waiting period, avoid new offenses, and pay an administrative fee.
- Difficulty Securing Employment
Many employers will not consider job applicants with prior criminal convictions. They may worry that these applicants are dishonest and want to avoid being a target of potential illegal activity. This determination frequently leaves individuals with criminal histories with few job prospects.
- Inability to Borrow Money
Many lending institutions will not extend loans to individuals with criminal convictions. When people spend time in jail, the ensuing damage to their credit rating is a leading reason banks may turn down their requests to borrow money.
As you can see so far, having a criminal conviction has economic consequences that can substantially alter your life. Having a criminal offense attorney in Maryland can mitigate your risk of ending up in these types of situations.
- Disqualification from Public Office
Candidates for political office must prepare to have their backgrounds on display. Criminal convictions will always become fodder that opponents can use to eliminate other candidates from the voters’ consideration.
- Exclusion from Child Adoption or Custody
Background checks are a critical part of the process that determines people’s suitability to adopt children. The court system will not permit someone who may potentially endanger a child’s welfare to take part in the adoption process. A criminal conviction for violent behavior can also negatively impact a parent’s ability to retain custody of a child.
- Inability to Rent an Apartment
Landlords seek tenants who will not complicate their lives and usually perform a background check for everyone wishing to rent one of their apartments. A landlord who discovers a prospective tenant’s prior criminal conviction will quickly lose interest in offering that person a lease. Finding housing can be challenging for someone with a criminal history.
Contact Our MD Criminal Offenses Attorney Today
With over 75 years of combined experience on your side, our law firm can help you after a serious criminal offense, ranging from violent crimes to sex crimes. Our experienced and tenacious criminal defense attorneys will fight to protect your rights. If a prior criminal conviction keeps you from moving on with your life, contact The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
If you or a family member are facing a criminal charge then it is in your best interest to find a criminal offenses attorney in MD to help you. The team here at Brynn Law has the experience to handle serious criminal offenses in a vast range. The real question is what do you look for in an attorney? There are many things to worry about when you are faced with a criminal charge and finding a good attorney shouldn’t make your life harder.