If you are charged with a crime by New York authorities, it may cause a significant interruption to your life both now and in the future. This is generally true even if you are not sentenced to any jail or prison time if convicted. The presence of a criminal record may make it harder to find a job, obtain housing or own firearms.
How a criminal record impacts your job search
Employers may think twice about hiring a person with a criminal record for many different reasons. If you were charged with or convicted of a financial crime, you may be considered unsuitable to work in the accounting department. In the event that you were convicted of theft, it may be difficult for a company to justify leaving you in charge of expensive equipment or allowing you to use tools that are easy to steal and sell.
How a criminal record impacts your housing search
A criminal record may make it difficult or impossible to rent an apartment as landlords may not rent to those who have one. Furthermore, if you can’t get a job, it may be difficult to afford the rent on any apartment that you have an opportunity to rent. These issues may be important to keep in mind when formulating a criminal defense strategy in your case as anything other than an acquittal will likely show up on a background check.
If you are charged with a crime, there are several strategies that you may use to obtain a positive result. These could include having evidence suppressed prior to a trial, hiring expert witnesses or casting doubt on witness testimony.
