Ways a Criminal Record Can Have a Long-Lasting Impact on Your Life
A criminal record is a list of your interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. A criminal record may contain information about arrests, convictions, and sentencing. The importance of a clean criminal record cannot be overemphasized. Having a criminal record can impact your life in many ways. For this reason, it is crucial that you retain a defense attorney if you have been arrested or charged with a crime. In this article, we discuss some of the ways a criminal record can have a long-lasting impact on your life.
- Limited Employment Opportunities
When recruiting new hires, employers conduct background checks on applicants. One of the things employers look into when conducting background checks is whether an applicant has a criminal record. If an employer discovers you have a criminal record, they may refuse to hire you. Even if you are otherwise qualified for a job, an employer may refuse to hire you because of your criminal record. The more severe the offense on your criminal record, the more challenging it can be to secure a job.
- Travel Restrictions
When traveling to another country, a background check may be necessary depending on the circumstances and type of visa. If you are found to have a criminal record, you may be denied a visa or entry into another country. A criminal record can even result in your passport getting revoked.
- Difficulty Finding Housing
Some landlords hesitate to allow people with criminal records to reside on their premises because of concerns about safety or potential liability. Some even have policies that automatically disqualify people with certain criminal records. Even if you are able to find housing, you may face extra hurdles, such as being required to provide additional references or documentation, being asked to pay a higher security deposit, or facing stricter lease terms. Additionally, depending on the type of criminal record, especially if it is related to a drug or sexual offense, you may be barred from residing in certain areas.
- Limitations on Your Rights
Having a criminal record can impact your legal rights. A felony record can mean you can’t exercise certain rights that U.S. citizens have. The rights that may be impacted depend on which state you are in and the nature of the offense, but some of the rights that are commonly affected include;
- The right to bear arms
- The right to vote
- The right to serve on a jury
- The ability to hold a driver’s license
- Eligibility for certain government assistance programs or benefits
- Difficulty Obtaining Credit
A criminal record can make it hard to obtain credit, such as credit cards or loans. Lenders may view some types of criminal records as indicating higher risk, especially if the crime relates to theft, fraud, or a financial crime.
Fortunately, people with criminal records can solve all these difficulties by having those records expunged. Expunging a criminal record results in the record being sealed from public view. However, when it comes to expunging criminal records, certain eligibility requirements must be met.
Contact an Indianapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer
Are you facing criminal charges? Contact our skilled Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers for legal help.
