A felony is a serious charge, and it’s important that you fight against it with everything you have. If you are convicted, it has the potential to ruin your life, your career and your relationships. Here’s why you should never hesitate to hire a competent and experienced Orange County felony attorney.
1. You Will Always Have a Criminal Record
Apart from the obvious consequences of being convicted of a felony, like incarceration and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, there are other ways that a felony charge will impact your life — even once you’ve completed your sentencing. If you are found guilty of a felony crime in California, you will always have a criminal record. Your criminal record is public and can be located with a simple internet search or by a potential employer during a routine background check. You can be denied employment, housing, loans, professional licenses and government assistance programs if your criminal record is discovered. The best way to protect against this is to work with a seasoned California felony defense lawyer to reduce the chances you are convicted in the first place.
2. You Are Likely to Remain Unemployed
Statistics published by the National Institute of Justice in 2007 show that up to 60% of felons are unemployed. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation estimates higher, suggesting that as many as 75% of felons are unable to obtain gainful employment once their sentencing is complete. If you are convicted of a felony crime, you could remain unemployed and even become homeless once you are out of jail.
3. You May Lose Some of Your Rights
Many felons are no longer allowed the right to bear arms, especially if the crime they were convicted of involved the use of a firearm or weapon of any kind. You may also lose your driving privilege, and your right to vote while you are incarcerated. If you are felon and are found to be in possession of a firearm, the consequences can be serious and may result in additional prison time or thousands of dollars in fines.
4. If You Committed a Felony Sex Crime, the Consequences Are Worse
If the felony you were convicted of is a sex crime, the consequences become even steeper. You will be ordered to register as a sex offender, which is information that is publicly available to anyone. You will have to report address and phone number changes to the national registry and will not be allowed to live within a certain number of yards of a school or daycare. Your reputation can be severely damaged as a result of being convicted of a felony sex crime.
Taking felony charges seriously and working with an experienced Orange County criminal defense lawyer is the first step to decreasing the chances that the charges will change your life forever. Contact a skilled attorney at the Law Offices of Joshua P. Visco today to discuss your case and begin developing a sound defense strategy as soon as possible.