How a Criminal Record Affects Your Personal Life?
2 years ago by Brian
A criminal arrest and conviction record can lead to serious legal and personal consequences that can last for many years, and sometimes for the remainder of your life.
Obviously, the best way to avoid a criminal record is to avoid an arrest or conviction in the first place.
For you to sustain a conviction, the state prosecutor handling your case has to satisfy their legal burden beyond a reasonable doubt.
If the prosecutor meets their burden, it will be up to a judge to decide the criminal penalties to impose.
If you are facing one or more criminal charges, a Woodbury, MN DUI/DWI & criminal defense lawyer from JS Defense, PA, can protect your legal rights while your case is pending.
If you ultimately sustain a conviction, we can represent you at a sentencing hearing and work to minimize the legal and personal consequences that you incur.
Legal Consequences of a Criminal Conviction in Minnesota
A sentencing judge can impose very serious penalties if you are ultimately found guilty or convicted of a criminal charge.
The potential penalties will depend upon the underlying charge(s) and the penalties allowed pursuant to state statute.
Some offenses have statutory minimum and maximum penalties or establish a penalty range, which a sentencing judge can use as their guideline.
Potential penalties upon conviction for a criminal offense may include any of the following:
- Jail time
- Mandatory supervised or unsupervised probation
- Monetary fines
- Court-ordered community service
In some instances, we may be able to argue for a period of supervised or unsupervised probation on your behalf.
If you successfully complete the terms of your probation and do not obtain any new arrests while your case is pending, the conviction goes away.
Furthermore, you can truthfully state on any job or rent applications that you do not have any prior convictions on your record.
Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Record on Your Personal Life
In addition to the potential legal consequences of an arrest or conviction on your record, you might also be facing various collateral consequences.
Those consequences can include:
- Difficulty finding a job, since employers typically perform a criminal background check prior to hiring
- Difficulty gaining admittance to a college or university because of the criminal charge or conviction on your record
- Difficulty finding a place to live in a decent area
Under certain circumstances, if you sustained an arrest, but not a conviction, you might be eligible to have your criminal record expunged after a period of time elapses.
That way, your criminal record, and its contents will not be available for the general public to view.
If someone performs a criminal background check on you, the arrest record will not appear.
The best way to avoid the penalties of a criminal record is to defend against a conviction to start with.
Our Woodbury, MN DWI & criminal defense attorney will do everything possible to minimize the collateral consequences of an arrest or conviction and can if you are eligible for a criminal records expungement.
Contact an Experienced Woodbury, MN, Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you have a pending criminal charge or conviction, JS Defense, PA, is ready to assist you at every stage of your case.
We can first represent you at your criminal court hearings, raise any possible legal defense, and pursue a complete dismissal of your charge.
If that is not possible, we can represent you at your criminal sentencing hearing and work to obtain the best possible result for you.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable Woodbury, MN DWI & criminal defense lawyer, please contact us directly.
We are ready to discuss your case and advise how we might help. Call: 651-362-9426
