How Your Future Is Impacted by a Criminal Record

You will have a criminal record when you are charged with a crime and convicted in a court of law. It doesn’t matter if you were only charged and convicted of one crime. Once a conviction takes place, a criminal record is established.

A conviction of a crime usually means penalties will be handed down, like fines or jail time, for example. But, a criminal record goes much further than just the immediate punishments. A criminal record can impact your life over the long term. When you have a criminal record, it is often public knowledge, meaning that anyone who wants to look you up online and see the infraction can. There are some exceptions to this, like instances where a person convicted of a crime in the juvenile court system is under 18. However, for the most part, your criminal record is going to be a permanent stain on your background that almost anyone can easily retrieve.

Given the accessibility of your information, when you go about daily life, it is likely that you will experience some amount of discrimination and hardship as a direct result of your criminal record. This is why when you are facing criminal charges, having experienced and skilled legal counsel helping you can be incredibly advantageous. An attorney can scrutinize your case and find ways to either lessen your charges, potentially find avenues where your charges could be dropped, or maybe have your record sealed or expunged.

For assistance with a criminal matter in California, you can count on the Orange County criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo.

Impacts of a Criminal Record

Several areas of your life can be adversely impacted once you have a criminal record. Even just one infraction can lead to a plethora of difficulties. Consider the most common issues individuals with criminal records struggle with below.

Getting a Job

Most employers require a background check before they offer employment. Individuals with a criminal record could automatically be precluded from obtaining certain types of jobs. For instance, jobs with children or other protected demographics may not be possible. Or, even if an employer can offer a job despite a criminal record, they may have a bias about individuals with this background and, for that reason alone, not offer employment.

Becoming a US Citizen

If you are in the process of becoming a US citizen or you aspire to be one in the future, you will have a hard to almost impossible time fulfilling this goal with a criminal record.

Child Custody

A parent with a criminal record will have a tougher time obtaining a favorable custody arrangement with the other parent.

Getting a Loan

Lenders may think you are too risky to approve a loan if you have a criminal record.

Getting into School

Schools may be unlikely to accept those with a criminal record, and specific professions, like those that require a professional license, could be unachievable.

Speak to an Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Today

A criminal record can have far-reaching implications beyond fines and jail time, affecting many aspects of your life. Avoiding a record or having your record sealed could be helpful. For more information, please call our Orange County criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo at (714) 547-4636 for a free consultation.