If you are convicted of a felony, you might think that the immediate legal consequences are as bad as things are going to get. You would be wrong. The expense of your defense, the prison time, and any fines you might have to pay would seem to be punishment enough. While the state penal system might be finished with you once you pay your fines and serve your prison sentence, that is nowhere near the end of the consequences of a felony conviction. In some ways, the consequences that follow can be worse than any punishment the state imposes on you.
A Felony Conviction Can Follow You for a Lifetime
In the long run, the time you spend in prison could be among the least of the consequences you suffer as a result of a felony conviction. There are any number of consequences that will impact your post-conviction life, including:
- Loss of state or federal security clearances to hold jobs in professions such as teaching, childcare, security work, the military, or jobs in the federal bureaucracy that require a security clearance.
- Inability to obtain visas to visit certain foreign countries, including Canada
- Loss of parental rights, custody, or visitation rights
- Federal financial aid for education
- The right to vote, hold elected office, own a firearm, or serve on a grand jury
In Texas, you regain the right to possess a firearm five years after you have completed all aspects of your sentence for a felony conviction. In addition, you can petition the court to restore your right to vote or serve on a grand jury.
Depending upon your conviction, you might be subject to particular residency restrictions. Those statutory restrictions on where you can live usually are temporary and depend upon the felony for which you were convicted. However, there often are unspoken restrictions on where you can live. These are not written into law, but are very real nonetheless. You could find it difficult to find a landlord willing to sign a lease with a convicted felon. That might never be given as a reason for declining a rental application, but employment history or income – both of which can be significantly affected by a felony conviction – could easily serve as a perfectly legitimate excuse for denying a rental application.
Any professional licenses you held could be terminated as a result of a felony conviction. Realistically, in Texas there are too many potential impacts on your ability to continue in certain professions to even make it possible to know what they all are.
The list goes on. You could find it difficult to be admitted to a college or university after a felony conviction. If you are an immigrant, conviction of a felony could impact your immigration status and even lead to your deportation.
If You are Facing Criminal Charges in Houston, Talk to Madrid Law Firm
Criminal charges are, without exception, serious business. A felony charge is particularly serious. You need to take steps to protect your future. You need a criminal defense lawyer with the experience to help you put together a defense and achieve the best outcome possible. If you are facing felony charges, talk to the Madrid Law Firm.
