The consequences of a criminal conviction on your record can be numerous and far reaching, impacting everything from your potential prison sentence, to your future employment opportunities, to your right to vote and own a gun. Many people don’t realize how tremendous these consequences can be. If you have been charged with a crime, you may be so focused on the immediate effects of your charges and potential conviction that you fail to comprehend the enormity of the long term effects of a criminal conviction in Greenville, South Carolina.
It is important to be aware of how the outcome of your criminal defense case can impact the rest of your life. Hiring a skilled criminal defense attorney will give you the best chance of avoiding the negative effects of a conviction and losing various rights. Call David R. Price, Jr. P.A. to find out how skilled legal representation can protect your rights in a criminal defense case.
Possible Punishments Associated with a Criminal Conviction in Greenville, South CarolinaÂ
The first thing that you will encounter if you are convicted of a crime in Greenville, South Carolina, is your sentence and penalties for the given crime. You will be sentenced by the judge who will take into consideration the facts of your trial and the crime that you are convicted of. You may end up with a jail sentence, a prison sentence, steep fines, or probation. If the charges were minor, then you may be able to get out with no more than fines and/or probation. Yet, the conviction will still be on your record, so you shouldn’t imagine that your life won’t be affected.
How a Criminal Conviction in Greenville, South Carolina, Can Affect Employment Opportunities
The effect of a criminal conviction on your employment opportunities will be among the more serious and life altering consequences of a criminal conviction. When you fill out an application for a new job, you will likely have to answer an important question concerning whether or not you have ever been convicted of a crime. You may also have to pass a background check before you can be hired. You may have education, training, and experience in the given field, but all of this may not be worth much if your criminal record prevents you from being seriously taken into consideration for a job. If your crime was a felony, then you may actually be banned from working in certain industries and occupations. In total, there are over 800 different jobs that you will not be legally allowed to have with a prior felony conviction.
How a Criminal Conviction in Greenville, South Carolina, Can Affect Your Education
Struggling to find gainful employment with a criminal record might lead you to seek out further education in hopes of being qualified to work in a different industry. Yet, you may hit a stumbling block here, too. Another consequence of a criminal conviction is that you may be denied government benefits, which could prevent you from receiving student loans. Certain types of convictions will make you automatically ineligible for any federally funded student loans. For example, if your conviction was related to a violent crime, a sex crime, or drug charges as a repeat offender, you are not eligible for these loans.
How a Criminal Conviction in Greenville, South Carolina, Can Affect Your Right to Governmental Assistance
With the struggles you may have with finding a job and being unable to pursue further education, you may find it very difficult to survive without help. You may need to apply for food stamps. You may need to seek housing assistance. Yet, depending on the crime you were convicted of, you may not be eligible to receive these government benefits either. Those with felony drug convictions, convictions for certain fraudulent crimes, or convictions for sex crimes are ineligible for public housing assistance, food stamps, and other forms of public assistance.
How a Criminal Conviction in Greenville, South Carolina, Can Take Away Your Right to Vote
Not all criminal convictions will take away your ability to receive public assistance, and not all of them will take away your right to vote. However, there are nearly 50,000 people in South Carolina who are not able to vote because of felony convictions. The good news is that even with a felony conviction, you may be able to regain your right to vote by completing your probation or parole. Better yet, you may be able to avoid this situation altogether by hiring a skilled Greenville, South Carolina, criminal defense attorney to defend your innocence and/or get the best possible outcome for your criminal case.
How a Criminal Conviction in Greenville, South Carolina, Affects Your Right to Own Firearms
A criminal conviction can also affect your right to own firearms in Greenville, South Carolina. In several states in the USA, South Carolina among them, convicted felons are not allowed to own guns. Neither are individuals who have been convicted of violent crimes, including domestic violence. You may also be barred by federal laws, which are applicable to every state. Federal law states that if you are convicted of any crime that resulted in a prison sentence greater than one year in length, you cannot ever own any kind of firearm, which includes guns and ammunition.
How a Skilled Greenville, South Carolina, Criminal Defense Attorney Can Make All the Difference
If you have been charged with any kind of crime in Greenville, South Carolina, then you would be wise to contact a skilled Greenville criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Without an attorney, you are vulnerable to the most severe consequences of a criminal conviction. With an attorney, you have a chance to fight the conviction or reach an acceptable plea bargain agreement to minimize the damage that a criminal conviction can inflict on your life and your future. Contact David R. Price, Jr. P.A. to learn more about your rights and your options for criminal defense in Greenville, South Carolina.
David Price is a Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Collections, and Criminal Defense Attorney who practices in Greenville, SC. He graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law, and has been practicing law for 12 years. David Price believes in helping those who have been injured. Learn more about his experience by clicking here.
