The consequences of a felony conviction go beyond incarceration and fines. With a felony record, there can be lifetime issues when it comes to many things, from employment to public assistance. If you are facing a conviction for a felony charge, it is essential that you have an exceptional Colorado criminal defense attorney on your side so that you can protect your rights and your future.
Usually, the most serious crimes are considered felonies and the penalties can range from sentences of over a year all the way up to the death penalty. The type of sentence that you may have to serve if you are convicted can change due to many factors including the crime you are convicted of, the number of prior convictions and the seriousness of the offense.
There are additional penalties for committing a felony as well, most of which goes far beyond the criminal sentence. One such penalty is that you would be forbidden from owning a firearm. Another penalty is that you would face the possibility of not being able to qualify for a trade license, such as a law license, if you have a felony conviction. Also a possibility is that you would not qualify for public assistance, such as housing, welfare or food stamps. Even student loans can be impacted for a time if it is a drug-related offense that you are facing.
There could be non-governmental consequences as well because there is no protection for felons from employers or landlords. Employers who run a background check on you would likely not hire you based on felony convictions. You may also have a difficult time finding private housing if a landlord runs a criminal background check.