The overall financial impact brought forth by conviction is overwhelming; it affects your quality of life for quite a while.
A criminal conviction can have devastating consequences that affect many aspects of your life. From career setbacks to damaged relationships, the impact is often long-lasting.
It’s crucial to understand the impact of a conviction on your future and take steps to minimize the damage. One of the most effective ways to protect yourself is to hire a criminal defense lawyer who can provide guidance and legal support throughout the process.
5 Ways A Conviction Can Ruin Your Life
A conviction, especially for serious crimes, can ruin your life in the following ways.
1. Impact on Your Career
A conviction can have devastating effects on your professional life. Most employers would never give a chance to employ someone with a criminal record.
It would be quite difficult to get employment, at least for industries related to finance, healthcare, or even education. Even if you are already employed, the conviction might force your employer to fire you.
Other convictions, such as fraud and theft, may have similar consequences. This places a limit on the jobs you have available to you and, subsequently, may make it difficult for you to earn a living.
If you live in a competitive job market, you can certainly expect to be at a disadvantage in hiring with a conviction on your record.
2. Loss of Civil Rights
You may be deprived of several of your civil rights if you are convicted of a crime. Most states do not allow convicted felons to vote or sit on a jury. These rights may not be restored, even after serving the sentence.
The loss of voting rights silences an individual in important political issues, which can be rather annoying for one who wants to take part in their community.
You could be stripped of your rights to own firearms. This would, at times, be a major issue with individuals who hunt with them or rely on them for protection.
3. Difficulty in Finding a Place to Live
Housing is another area where a conviction of a crime can hold one back. Many landlords do background checks on their would-be tenants. If they find out there is a conviction, they may just refuse to rent their property to you. This can limit your options and force you to move to less desirable neighborhoods.
A conviction might also impact your ability to get loans, even if you already have a house. Lenders might be reluctant or refuse to give a mortgage to a convicted individual. For this reason, a conviction can impact, not only where you are going to live right now, but also your long-term financial security.
4. Damaged Relationships
It is not just you who suffers as a result of a criminal conviction; those who truly care about you also suffer from it.
Friends and family may distance themselves because they may not want to be related to a convict. Trust becomes an issue, and it will take years to rebuild. This emotional impact can amount to isolation and even depression.
A conviction in certain cases might even lead to divorce or loss of custody of your children. Many courts take into consideration a parent’s criminal history when making custody-related decisions. The potential is so strong that, with a conviction, your capacity to maintain a relationship with your children will be dramatically affected.
5. Financial Consequences
The financial consequence of conviction may turn out to be disastrous. Court fees, fines, and lawyer costs can add up very fast. Even after you have paid them, your financial challenges may continue in the form of lost job opportunities. Because your earning capacity is now limited, full financial recovery may be difficult.
Also, if your crime includes restitution, you are supposed to reinstate the losses brought to the victim. This is another financial burden added, which may take a considerable number of years to sort out. The overall financial impact brought forth by conviction is overwhelming; it affects your quality of life for quite a while.
Join the conversation!