How Can a Criminal Record Affect My Life?

handcuffs with fingerprints

Even after you complete the penalties placed against you for your criminal offense, such as serving jail time and paying fines, you will still have a criminal record that will permanently stay with you. And with this permanent criminal record comes long-term consequences. Continue reading to learn how a criminal record can affect your life and how one of the experienced Middlesex County criminal defense attorneys at The Law Office of Michael A. Policastro can help you through this.

Can a criminal record affect my life?

First of all, when being convicted of a criminal offense, you will likely be faced with any combination of the following penalties:

  • Potential jail time.
  • Potential fines.
  • Potential community service time.

But most of all, you will undoubtedly receive a permanent criminal record. This may be used against you in your child custody agreements. That is, your former spouse may file for a post-judgment modification to obtain sole custody of your child and argue that your criminal history makes you an unfit parent.

In addition, a criminal record may limit your capability of retaining work. That is, if a job application asks if you have ever been convicted of a crime, you must check “yes.” Employers tend to steer away from applicants who have to check “yes” for this question. But if you lie and the employer catches this in their background check, you will automatically be disqualified from the position. Also, if you already have a job and then you are convicted of a crime, your employer may fire you.

A criminal record can also impact your ability to obtain a loan. When your criminal record pops up on the background check that a lender will conduct, they will likely view it as a lack of responsibility or stability and deny you the loan.

And lastly, a criminal record may hurt your immigration status. That is, it will ruin your chances of obtaining citizen status in the United States. You may even be deported as a result.

Am I eligible for an expungement?

Put simply, expungement is a process of erasing your criminal record. While this is accessible in the state of New Jersey, this is only the case for certain low-level crimes. With that being said, below is a list of high-level crimes that cannot be expunged according to state law:

  • Murder offense.
  • Kidnapping offense.
  • Aggravated sexual assault offense.
  • Robbery offense.
  • Arson offense.
  • Perjury offense.
  • Distribution, sale, or possession with intent to distribute controlled substances offense.

If you believe that you are eligible for expungement, you must retain legal representation from a skilled Middlesex County expungement attorney today. Our firm can assist you with the long filing process ahead of you. We look forward to working with you.

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