A violent crime conviction in Houston can have major consequences beyond fines or jail time. A conviction for a violent crime, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, can impact many areas of your life, including employment, education, housing, your social status and even long-term goals.
Employment
Background checks are common with many employers and a criminal record check is often part of a routine background check. Although a criminal record will likely be a red flag for many employers, one involving a violent crime could be even more serious.
Some employers may only check for felonies, while others might only consider certain types of crimes or crimes within a certain time. However, there is a stigma attached to certain types of crimes, such as violent crimes, compared to other crimes employers may view as less serious, such as DUI’s or white-collar crimes.
Jobs in certain industries, such as healthcare, law enforcement and government, will often disqualify an applicant with a violent crime conviction, regardless of their other qualifications. A violent crime conviction may not result in automatic disqualification in other industries, but there is a good chance an employer will draw a negative inference about you.
Housing
A violent crime conviction can also cause housing problems. Property management companies also conduct background checks before renting to tenants, as well.
Even if your conviction does not show up on a background check, companies may have policies that prevent them from renting to tenants who have violent crime convictions. You may find that your only chance of obtaining housing is with a private landlord who does not have the time or resources to conduct a background check.
Additionally, government-assisted housing programs often have strict rules involving criminal records. A violent crime conviction could automatically disqualify you from being eligible for these programs. If you already participate in a government housing program, a conviction could potentially cause you to lose your eligibility.
Depending on the circumstances of your conviction, you could automatically lose your gun rights. If you are able to petition to restore your gun rights at some point, the process can be lengthy and expensive.
Reputation
Your professional and personal reputation may suffer when people learn you have been convicted of a violent crime. Every violent crime charge involves specific facts that are unique to that situation. Being charged or convicted of a violent crime does not mean you are a violent person, but not everyone views it that way.
Although you might not lose your job or still secure steady employment, co-workers or bosses may treat you differently when they learn of your criminal history.
Family or friends may view you differently. You could find yourself subject to comments or being avoided altogether by people you were once close to. It is not uncommon for a criminal conviction to cause the end of a marriage or romantic relationship.
In addition to the potential damage to current relationships, new friendships or relationships could derail when people learn of your criminal background.
Avoiding these consequences
One way to avoid or reduce the negative effects of a violent criminal conviction is to put on a strong defense and fight the charges. The key is knowing the law, attacking the evidence against you and having someone advocate on your behalf.
Another option is negotiating a plea bargain where the charge is reduced to a less severe charge. This can help you avoid some of the most serious consequences of a conviction.