According to the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) report, a convicted felon will lose the right to vote, run for office, and hold public office. He can’t serve as a jury for seven years and can’t handle firearms. Finally, he can lose his professional permit or license. However, there is more severe punishment for a felony. The more serious the crime is, the worst the sentence will be.
A felony conviction is serious. After you’ve paid a hefty fine, lost some of your rights, and served your sentence, you will face the difficulty of finding employment. People around you will easily discriminate you. That is why, when facing such case, it’s best that you get the best criminal attorney. The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates give their services to those who need to clear their name.
Different Types of Felonies
Each state has a law that governs felony crimes and their corresponding punishments. If you have questions about a felony, the best person that can help you is your attorney. In general, felonies are crimes that are more serious than other offenses. The most common types of felonies are rape, murder, aggravated assault, arson, and theft.
Penalties for Felony Convictions
The penalty for a felony conviction will differ from state to state. However, one thing is for sure– you can’t get away from the case with minimal jail time, fine, or community service. A convicted felon will face several years of imprisonment, pay a large amount of money to the victim, or both. You will only be penalized once the prosecutor has proven that you are guilty beyond any reasonable doubt.
For the most serious felony convictions like murder, a death penalty is an option. Again, this will depend on which state you’re in. There are states that approve death penalty, and there are those who don’t. If the former is the case, you can appeal your case and get another chance to prove yourself innocent. The appeal process is complicated. It will take an experienced defense attorney to process and win it.
Different Approaches to a Felony Case
A felony case is not straightforward. You will be given several choices as you go along the case. For one, you can plead guilty and lessen your sentence. If you’re confident of winning the case, you can proceed to court. However, when you’ve been proven guilty, one of the following may happen:
ONE: The judge can give you probation or you can take your place in a diversionary program.
TWO: You will be taken into custody as soon as the courtroom has been dismissed.
THREE: You will serve a minimum jail sentence.
FOUR: You can get a death sentence.
FIVE: You will be required to pay restitution to financially compensate the victim or the victim’s family.
Expunging Felony Convictions
Because people have their biases, you might find it difficult to continue your life after you’ve served your sentence. You will have limited employment opportunities. There may be restrictions on your housing options as well. Though felony will stay on your record forever, there’s a way for you to expunge it. Expungement of a criminal record means that your criminal conviction will be hidden from public eye. Thus, you can live more normally.
