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A felony conviction can profoundly impact your future, especially when it comes to finding and keeping gainful employment. While some states have restrictions regarding the rights of convicted felons, such as voting or owning firearms, employers also have the right to deny employment based on your criminal background. This can make finding work difficult, even if you’ve served your time or had your record expunged. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how a felony conviction can affect your job prospects and options for getting your record expunged.
The Impact of a Felony Conviction
A felony conviction is an obstacle that can haunt you long after you’ve served your sentence. Many employers will run background checks before hiring; a felony conviction will be discovered during these screenings. Depending on the nature of the crime and the field you are looking to work in, it may be difficult—if not impossible—to obtain certain types of employment with a felony on record. For example, most states have prohibitions against certain convictions if you want to become a teacher or work in law enforcement.
Regarding your current career or job, a felony conviction would most likely result in losing your position.
Felony Expungement Options
In many cases, those who have been convicted of felonies may be able to have their records expunged so they won’t show up on background checks. This process varies from state to state; some states allow individuals with certain types of convictions to petition for expungement after a waiting period, while others require individuals to prove rehabilitation before an expungement is granted. You must consult with an attorney about any potential options for having your record expunged so that it does not continue to hamper your job prospects and career opportunities in the future.
Finding Work After a Felony Conviction
If expungement is not an option, there are still ways to seek employment after your felony conviction. Here are some tips:
1. Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations related to your conviction in your state. This will help you understand what work you are legally allowed to pursue after being convicted of a felony.
2. Identify skills that employers may be looking for, even in those industries that may be reluctant to hire someone with a criminal record. Knowing the marketable skills you possess can help employers see past your criminal history.
3. Take advantage of available support services and resources, such as assistance from local employers who have created job placement initiatives geared toward helping individuals with felony convictions reintegrate into the workforce.
4. Reach out to organizations that specialize in providing assistance to people with criminal records, such as halfway houses or vocational rehabilitation centers. These organizations often provide counseling and employment placement services to help you successfully transition into the workforce.
5. Consider volunteering or interning to gain on-the-job experience and help employers see past your record when considering hiring you for full-time work.
6. Develop a professional network by joining associations related to your profession, industry, or geographic area. This can help create connections that lead to jobs more easily than searching through classified ads alone.
The Importance of Working With An Attorney During Your Initial Case
Those facing criminal charges must take their situation seriously and seek legal counsel from an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can provide invaluable advice throughout the process and will ensure that all available options are explored before entering into any plea agreements or making any decisions in court proceedings. Working with an attorney during the initial case can help minimize any potential penalties or consequences associated with a criminal charge, including reduced sentences or even having charges dropped altogether when defense counsel presents appropriate evidence. This may ultimately reduce the time one must wait before they are eligible for expungement if they receive a conviction on their record.
Contact Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes, P.A. For a Team You Can Rely On
A felony conviction can limit opportunities both now and in the future when it comes to finding gainful employment in specific fields depending upon the offense committed; however, there may be options available for those who wish to clear their records through procedures like expungements provided by local laws or statutes within each state jurisdiction.
Those facing criminal charges should seek legal counsel from an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible so that all available options are explored thoroughly ahead of time to reduce any potential consequences stemming from these charges down the road – including limiting access when seeking new career opportunities due to having a felony conviction on record.
Contact Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes, P.A. to explore your options today.