Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
When you are facing felony charges in Chicago, you will likely be scared about what is to come. Even if you have been charged with a crime in the past, facing a felony charge can be life changing. A felony conviction can lead to years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines, restitution, and many other penalties. Even after you have served your time, you could very well still struggle to return to a normal life. Today, we will take a look at how a felony conviction can change your life.
Post-Conviction
Once your trial is complete and you are found guilty of the felonious crime, you will begin your post-conviction life. This is one of the more difficult parts of life as a convicted felon. This part of your life starts with sentencing. You could very well wind up with the maximum recommended sentence from the judge. Or, you could be sentenced to a handful of years in prison. The judge will take into account statements made by the plaintiff, the victim’s family, and any statement you make.
Legal Freedoms Disappear
The legal freedoms you once had will disappear when you are convicted of a felony. This includes the ability to work certain jobs, such as those that are around children and the elderly. You also will not be allowed to have a firearm or visit a firing range. There is the possibility that you could lose your driver’s license, especially if you have been charged with a felony DUI, which could include bodily harm in the case or if there were children in the car with you at the time of the offense.
Difficulty Finding Employment
You will likely have major difficulty finding employment if you have been convicted of a felony. Once you are released from prison, either due to time served or because you have been released on probation, your record will not change. This means that whenever you apply for a job you will need to answer the job application appropriately and say you have been convicted of a crime. It is always smart to be honest because a simple background check will reveal your conviction.
Issues with Housing
There will likely be problems with finding housing if you are convicted of a felony. A felon, who will likely be out of work, will not have many choices of places to live. They will need to rent an apartment or a motel room. Many places will not rent a residence to a convicted felon because of the increased risk of safety problems. It is also possible that a convicted felon could have trouble obtaining federal assistance such as food stamps, grants, and work study jobs.
Travel Restrictions
If you enjoyed traveling prior to your conviction you likely will not be able to enjoy it much after the conviction. The reason for this is that convicted felons will have a lot of trouble traveling outside of the United States. Canada has a strong policy against admitting convicted felons from the U.S. Every country has its own requirements and restrictions when it comes to admitting convicted felons past their borders.
Broken Relationships
On top of all these problems, you will have broken relationships with friends and family members if you are ever convicted of a felony in Chicago. You will need to rebuild relationships that have soured due to your criminal past. It can be very difficult to reconnect with long-lost friends and even family members who might not want to associated with someone who has been convicted of a crime.
If you are facing felony charges in Chicago it is in your best interest to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Call the office of David Freidberg at 312-560-7100 today to schedule an appointment.
(image courtesy of Javier Villaraco)
