How a Criminal Record Affects Your Life

Getting arrested for any crime can have a lasting effect on your everyday life. If you are convicted, you will be sentenced with a court ordered punishment that may include hefty fines and severely limited freedoms. You may be penalized with jail or prison time, probation, community service, driver’s license suspension, mandatory educational courses, counseling, and more. You may believe that once you have served your sentence, your past conviction will be forgotten.

Unfortunately this is not the case. Your arrest and conviction will remain on your record indefinitely and can have a severe impact on your current and future opportunities.

Criminal Record Details

For any arrest or conviction, a criminal record is created that documents the incident. Even if you are not convicted, you will have a criminal record for your arrest or charge. Even a mistaken arrest or a charge that was dropped could hurt you in the future. On any application for a job, loan, or college, you are required to report any past arrests and the person reviewing your application may conduct a criminal background check. Having even just one arrest or charge can cause your application to be denied. You may find that many opportunities that were once an option are no longer available to you.

If you have had criminal charges against you dropped or were found not guilty, you may be eligible to have your criminal record expunged or sealed. This means that your criminal history can be removed from public access so that you will no longer have to report it on most applications. Having a record expunged or sealed gives you a fresh start in life without being burdened by your criminal history.

If you have been charged with a crime and are awaiting trial, consider contacting a criminal defense attorney immediately to help you defend your case. A not guilty verdict could mean the difference between being able to eventually expunge your record and having to live with your criminal past for the rest of your life.

Contact Us

Don’t enter the courtroom feeling unprepared to defend your case. To talk to an experienced attorney about your charges and criminal defense, please contact the West Palm Beach criminal attorney, Eric Klein, of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. today at 561-353-2800.