Lara Bracamonte Davila

Doing What Is Right For You

How a felony record can impact your future

On Behalf of | Jul 10, 2024 | Criminal Law

When you are facing a felony charge, you are probably concerned with the most immediate consequences, such as fines, prison time or probation. This is understandable.

However, sometimes this can cause you to quickly accept a plea deal to resolve the matter. But you might not be considering the future problems of a felony conviction on your record.

Once you have served your sentence, paid your fines and/or finished your probation, you may be ready to put the past behind you and move on with your life. With a felony conviction on your record, you might realize this is harder than you realized.

A felony record in Texas means a lifetime of challenges in areas such as employment, housing, education and reputation.

Employment and housing

Many employers today conduct background checks. Even if your conviction was for a non-violent offense and many years ago, this could cause you to lose out on a potential job.

Landlords and housing authorities also see a felony record as a red flag. This reduces your chance of finding a suitable, affordable place to live. If you are involved in a child custody proceeding, lack of decent housing could impact your ability to secure custody.

Education and professional licensing

Going to college or furthering your education may be one of the ways you want to rebuild your life after a criminal conviction. Although you could get accepted to college, if you need loans to pay for it, you could be ineligible for federal student loans.

The same problems often arise when it comes to professional licensing. Even if you secure a job or obtain a degree, if you choose a profession that requires a license, the licensing process usually involves a detailed background investigation. Your felony record could prevent you from receiving a license.

Community status

Beyond these challenges, your personal and professional reputations may suffer. Many criminal convictions are public and when friends, family or colleagues learn about it, your community reputation may suffer.

These challenges can be frustrating. This is why it is important to understand the long-term effect of a felony conviction. A felony charge should be taken seriously and be met with the strongest possible defense.