The Lasting Consequences of a Criminal Record in Minnesota

Too many people plead guilty to a crime because the consequences do not seem that bad. Maybe penalties include a term of probation and a small fine, and they want to simply enter your guilty plea and get it over with. Unfortunately, a guilty plea usually means that a conviction will go on your permanent criminal record, and you may not realize the last effects this record can have on many aspects of your life.

Your Employment

A criminal record can wreak havoc on your professional life, no matter what type of career path you may be on. The following are only some ways that a conviction can affect your employment:

• Companies may not want to hire people with any type of criminal background. This is especially difficult if time in jail or other circumstances surrounding your arrest caused you to lose your job.
• A DWI or serious traffic conviction can cause commercial drivers to lose their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). This means they will no longer be able to drive trucks, buses, or other commercial vehicles for a living.
• If you lose your non-commercial driver’s license, you may find it difficult to get to work on time, which can lead to the loss of your job. Also, if your job required any driving, you will no longer be able to perform your job duties and may get fired.
• If you have a professional license to work in your industry, a criminal conviction can put that license in jeopardy. Many licensing boards will suspend or revoke your license due to a conviction, which means you cannot earn a living in your chosen field.
• Some convictions may prohibit you from ever working in certain industries. For example, a fraud-related conviction may disqualify you from any jobs that involve handling money or finances. Domestic assault or abuse convictions can disqualify you from working in any caretaking positions.

Your Education

Many people facing criminal allegations are still in high school or college, and a conviction can change the path of their education in many ways, including:

• Non-acceptance to higher education programs or the rescission of an acceptance
• Disqualification from participating in collegiate athletics or other activities important to the student
• Loss of scholarships or financial aid from the college or university, especially if scholarships were based on athletics
• For drug-related convictions, ineligibility for federal financial aid

Your Housing

When you apply to rent housing, many landlords will perform a criminal background check. If they learn of any convictions, they will likely deny your application. This is because landlords do not want to take the risk that illegal activity may happen on their property. This situation is especially common with drug or domestic violence-related convictions, as a landlord may believe that those crimes may be more likely to occur in a person’s home.

Your Family

Aside from family members possibly being judgmental of a criminal offense, some convictions may also affect your relationship with your children. Your child’s other parent may petition the court to award them full custody based on your convictions, especially if they involved drugs, abuse, domestic assault, or other acts that they believe may put your child in jeopardy if you re-offend.

Your Reputation

Last but certainly not least, a criminal conviction can affect your reputation in your social group and community in many ways. First, many arrests are publicized in the media and your mugshot may be on the local news or posted online for anyone to see. It can be extremely difficult to get your such news stories and photos scrubbed from the internet and it could be online indefinitely.

Sex offenses can certainly have an effect on your reputation if you have to register with the Minnesota sex offender registry. This registry publishes information about you online, including your name, address, employment, photo, offenses, and more. Anyone can find this information with a quick search, which can cause trouble when you are trying to start new relationships, move into a new neighborhood, or are looking for a new job.

Find Out How Our St. Paul Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help

The reality is that a criminal record can have many long-term effects on your life, and many criminal records may never be expunged. For these reasons, it is critical to avoid a conviction whenever possible. The best way to avoid a conviction is to contact a St. Paul criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after an arrest.

At Capitol City Law Group, LLC, we thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your arrest and allegations to formulate the most effective possible defense strategy in your case. We gather evidence to support your defense and know how to present it in a persuasive manner in court. We will fight for your rights, so please call 651-376-3744 or contact us online for a free consultation today.