When a person gets caught for committing a crime, it goes into their criminal record. The details and related documents of any crime, whether minor or major, will be included. The records will also include any arrests made on the person, regardless of whether or not they have been convicted in the end.

For misdemeanours, or less serious offenses such as shoplifting and trespassing, the punishment given will be less severe, for example short jail sentences, fines, or community service. Felonies refer to grave offenses like murder, rape and kidnapping, and those found guilty will usually have to serve time in prison, life in prison, or even face a death penalty. Regardless of the severity of the crime and punishment, they will show up on the criminal record.

In the U.S., the public has access to the criminal records of almost every individual, and they can simply be obtained from the state agency or courthouse. This means that any prospective employer, private investigator, or anyone interested really, can easily view a person’s criminal history from years ago.

Records typically last for a lifetime once they are added and will never be erased. In some cases, those who have been charged can apply for non-disclosures. However this only means that it will no longer be accessible by the general public but is still kept in the government records. Quite a few convictions will also never be allowed to apply for non-disclosures, such as murder, family violence, and child pornography.

Because of this, any punishment given out for committing a crime can have long lasting effects that extend beyond the official penalty period, as long as you’ve been arrested or charged. This makes it very important to ensure that criminal charges are accurate and the punishment is fitting.

Criminal History

Simply having a criminal history can affect how difficult it is to seek employment. While some jobs do strictly require employees to have a clean background, some companies just prefer not to hire ex-convicts even if candidates are clearly qualified for the role. In fact, many employers reject potential candidates for having records of arrests, even if they have never been convicted.

Criminal records also make it tough to access further education. Many schools and educational institutions require criminal background checks in their admission processes. But there is little evidence that these background checks reduce the rate of crime that happens in the campus. In fact, these barriers that prevent people with criminal records from receiving further education might inadvertently lead to higher subsequent crime rates. Furthermore, not being able to receive higher education can make a big difference in living conditions later in life.

Another area that many people with criminal records face problems with, even if there are no official regulations in the way, is securing a place to stay. Landlords may request to view potential tenants’ criminal backgrounds and reject them if they feel uncomfortable. Other restrictions that may be disruptive in the future include not being able to apply for visas when travelling, or being ineligible to have custody over their own children.

History of Incarceration

For those who have served time in prison, resuming a normal life afterwards is even harder. Along with the issues that anyone with a criminal history has to deal with, they also face problems like having to reintegrate themselves back into a world that they have been isolated from for so long. Also, people with history of incarceration face much more stigma from society as compared to someone who has a criminal record but has never been incarcerated. These stigmas can make building new relationships and integrating back into the community very challenging.

Furthermore, there are many rules and regulations that people who have been released from prison have to live by. These prevent them from freely accessing things like healthcare, travel and entertainment that are otherwise available to other people. For example, a large percentage of people who have been convicted of felonies lose their right to vote forever.

Serving time in prison also has a high chance of leading to the development of mental health issues, or the worsening of existing conditions. The experience can have prisoners leaving with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety, among other conditions. These make it even more difficult to navigate life outside back in the world.

Minimizing Damage

Therefore, it is crucial for those facing criminal charges to have a capable defense attorney when going through their trial to minimize the impact as much as possible. To find out more about how criminal defense lawyers can help in various types of charges, keep reading here. With a good defense, the economic, social and psychological impacts of the criminal charge can be reduced.

For those who cannot afford to hire their own criminal defense attorney, they can apply to have the court assign them one, free of charge. A very small percentage choose to represent themselves during trial, but this is usually not encouraged.