What Are The Long-term Consequences Of A Felony Conviction?

Felony offenses are the most serious in Ouachita Parish. A conviction will result in long prison sentences, high fines, and other consequences. For example, a convicted felon may have to register as a sex offender, and Louisiana still allows for the use of the death penalty. Even after a person has served their time, they will continue facing serious consequences. If you have been charged with a serious offense, it is critical that you speak to an Ouachita Parish felony defense lawyer who can protect your future.

The Consequences of a Felony Conviction in Ouachita Parish

In Ouachita Parish, criminal records are permanent, and they are also public records. This means if you are convicted of a felony, anyone can access your criminal record to conduct a background check. There is still a stigma associated with any type of criminal record, but people tend to judge people even more harshly when they have been convicted of a past felony. With this type of black mark on your record, you may not be able to:

• Obtain employment: Employers are very reluctant to hire people with any type of criminal record. If you have been convicted of a felony, you may find it very difficult to obtain employment, particularly in a professional practice or in the financial industry.
• Find housing: Landlords and mortgage companies are often reluctant to help convicted felons take out a mortgage loan or allow them to rent a rental unit because they are sometimes concerned that the money will not be paid. There are no legal protections for convicted felons that protect them from being charged higher interest rates or from being denied housing altogether.
• Pursue child custody: Particularly if you were convicted of a violent crime, the family courts may be reluctant to award you with child custody because they may fear for the child’s well-being.
• Gain admission to post-secondary education institutions: Many colleges and universities have specific policies that prohibit them from accepting any student that has a criminal record.

How to Avoid the Long-Term Consequences of a Felony Conviction

A felony conviction can negatively affect every aspect of your life. Fortunately, in Ouachita Parish, you may be able to get the conviction expunged from your record. If you can get the conviction expunged, it is as though you were never convicted, and it is not visible to anyone who wants to conduct a background check.

To qualify for an expungement, ten years must have passed since you served your sentence and you must not be charged or convicted with another crime during that time. Still, some felonies are not eligible for expungement, including drug crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, and any crime against a minor.

Our Felony Defense Lawyer in Ouachita Parish Can Help You Avoid The Consequences

A felony conviction will have a devastating impact on your life. At Whiddon Criminal Defense, our Monroe felony defense lawyer can prepare a strong case that will help you avoid the above consequences and retain your freedom. Call us now at 318-594-3592 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more.