We all make mistakes. We all do things that we are not proud of, things that we never want anyone else to find out. So, we all keep secrets. However, some mistakes are bigger than our ability to keep secrets, and those sorts of mistakes can ruin your life. Being charged with a felony is a dangerous situation, one that, if mishandled, will destroy your life. If you get convicted of a felony, your friends will not see you as they once did. If you get convicted of a felony, your family will not see you as they once did. If you get convicted of a felony, you are not you anymore; you are just a felon. The question is, how do you want everyone to view you? If you’ve been charged with a felony and you want a better chance of not having your identity reduced to a criminal charge, keep reading.
Felonies carry the most substantial prison sentence and fines allowed under the law, but the punishment does not end there. Being convicted of a felony is a civil death sentence. Basically, any employer, housing business, and even the government can treat you differently than everyone else because of a felony conviction. Renting an apartment as a felon is extremely difficult. A felony conviction limits your opportunities to find a job. For example, government employers who require a security clearance, such as the TSA, FBI, and other private contractors, almost always disqualify candidates with felony convictions. If convicted, you lose the right to vote. You cannot run for or hold any public office. You cannot own a gun. If you planned to go to college – good luck paying for it; convicted felons are not eligible for federal student loans, especially for drug offenses. In Alabama, conviction of a drug-related felony disqualifies you for both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) and the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families program (welfare).
Mishandling a felony charge will ruin your life, do not treat it with indifference. You have the right to an attorney, which is often a public defender. A public defender will represent you to the best of their ability, but the truth is, their office is juggling hundreds of cases that are just like yours. No attorney is a miracle worker, and no attorney can promise you that they can win your case; but, you want an attorney by your side that will passionately defend you against a charge that can obliterate your entire identity. The question is, how do you want everyone to view you? If you’ve been charged with a felony and you want a fighting chance of not having your identity reduced to a criminal charge, call Sheffield & Lentine.