Often, the first thought that a person has when the police arrest them is, “Am I going to prison?” It is natural for you to feel scared of the possibility that you will be locked up for months or years. But a criminal conviction can affect your life for years even after your jail or prison sentence is over.
Even after you have served your time, having a felony on your criminal record can make it very hard to get a job. More and more these days, employers throughout central Oklahoma perform background checks on every job applicant they consider hiring. And when a felony conviction pops up, a hiring manager will often think twice about hiring the applicant. This can limit someone with a record to low-paying jobs with little chance of promotion or advancement in their career.
Getting professionally licensed again after a conviction
In some professions, having a conviction for certain crimes on your record will automatically disqualify you for employment, no matter the circumstances of your conviction or how long ago it occurred. Fortunately, a 2019 law can help some Oklahomans in this situation. It allows people with a non-violent felony offense on their record to seek certain professional licenses, as long as their conviction is not substantially related to the nature of the job. The law is known as the “Fresh Start Act.”
Reduce the chances of a conviction ruining your career
This law might help you restart your career after a felony conviction. But the best thing you can do for yourself is to do everything possible to avoid getting convicted in the first place. This starts with hiring an experienced defense attorney who will represent you in court, fight for your rights and provide you with sound advice.