Motor vehicle offenses are a common criminal charge, and when it is a matter to do with a felony level, the feeling and stress one gets is extremely unpleasant. The penalties for convicted felons in this state are rather strict which include fines and suspension of license besides a long term in prison or even the death penalty. These penalties can completely change a person and though many of the felons might have finished serving their time they continue to face the effects of their crime for their entire life. Some of these collateral damages are denial of certain civil liberties, inability to secure a job or even a place to live.
You should know that when you are arrested for a felony in Louisiana, you are well within your rights to defend yourself against the charges leveled against you. A hired criminal defense attorney will definitely be able to explore your case, bargain for you, as well as advocate on your behalf. If you are charged with a felony, a legal expertise can assist you to avoid the social stigma associated with a felony conviction thus minimizing their lifetime consequences.
The Long-Term Effects of Conviction to a Felony Charge in Louisiana
In Louisiana, criminal records are public records and one cannot expunge them and hence they stay with you for your entire life. When you have done your time and are released from the system, anyone can submit a request for your criminal report through nay background check. Despite the fact that any criminal record lowers one’s chances of being hired, this will be exacerbated if you were convicted of a felony. A criminal conviction on a background check can affect your ability to:
- Apply, get admitted and secure a scholarship or other types of funding for colleges and universities
- Maintain child custody
- Find housing
- Secure employment
In addition, some liberties and privileges may also be stripped off the convicted felons on the basis of the crime committed. Some of these rights and privileges include:
- The right of voting is enabled to the convicts when they are on parole and they are serving the sentence.
- The revocation of your professional licenses if you were convicted of sex crime or violent crime
- The right of owning an armory for those who were convicted of sex or violent crime or an offence that related to the use of weapons. This right is regained if for instance you do not have other convictions, ten years after serving your entire sentence.
These are some of the many ways that a felony conviction will impact a person’s life in the long run. In some instances, you may also lose government privileges consisting of social security, Medicaid, and the privilege of obtaining a food stamp. Your lawyer will assist you to understand the charges preferred against you and their implications in future so that you defend your rights and freedom properly.
Is It Possible to Seal a Felony Conviction in Louisiana?
This is why Louisiana has expungement as a way for people to move forward with their lives since being convicted as a criminal is disastrous to one’s every facet of life. An expungement erases the conviction from the public record, making it practically invisible, as in, you may not worry so much about an employer or a landlord whom you know would run a background check on you and discover your bad record. For purposes of expunging a felony conviction, one needs to wait for at least 10 years after completing his/her term as well as should not have any other criminal charges or convictions during this period. However, some more severe felonies do not qualify for expungement, including:
- Sex crimes
- Drug crimes
- Violent crimes
- Any offense committed on a child
Unfortunately, many felonies fall in any of the above categories hence, people with such convictions cannot be expunged. When arrested on felony charge, such a person ought to hire a good lawyer who will ensure they are not convicted and the repercussions never surface in their lifetime.
Contact A Professional Louisiana Criminal Lawyer
Misdemeanor charges can be overwhelming to handle especially after understanding that a conviction can follow one for the next 20 or so years after the judge has given the verdict. Luckily, you are not a lone fighter when it comes to fighting for your future. Contact our Louisiana Criminal Lawyer right now!
