Many people go through adolescence making mistakes severe enough that implicate a criminal charge. Unfortunately as teenagers, many fail to recognize the severity an action will have on the rest of their lives. Bing charged with a crime or convicted of one can have lifelong repercussions. The following are some of the most common burdens individuals could face for having a criminal charge or a conviction.
- Federal Student Aid
Unbeknownst to many adolescents, the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid, limits student aid to those students who have a criminal record. While a student may or may not receive aid, the amount of aid he or she receives will be extremely limited. Further, there are particular grants and scholarships that an individual with a criminal record will not be able to qualify for, even with stellar grades. Lastly, in the event that the student with a criminal background opts to attend a private institution, he or she will not be able to apply for student loans, which could help pay for those college costs.
- Federal Welfare
There are many restrictions an individual with a criminal background will face. While many of these restrictions vary by state, anyone who has been charged or convicted of a crime faces fewer aid opportunities than someone without a criminal record.
- Employment
Having a criminal record unfortunately leaves many people unemployed. Many individuals who have a criminal record will find themselves unable to obtain a job; even they have great resources, interview flawlessly, and have a great personality. While, every job applicant’s case will be different, countless of employers will refuse to hire an individual who has a criminal background.
Nearly all employers will use some sort of third-party vendor in order to obtain a jobseeker’s criminal history. The record the employer obtains will vary depending on what vendor they used. With a background check, an employer can discover an applicant’s arrest records, credit history, and even the individual’s general reputation.
The Benefits of an Expungement
Expunging a criminal record or conviction is not for everyone and not everyone will qualify for one. Having a criminal record expunged, however, can offer many benefits to those who are seeking employment.
An expungement does not indicate that a criminal record will be completely erased from a person’s criminal history. In simple terms, an expungement will be shielded from public view, which includes most employers searching a person’s criminal history.
If you or someone you know seeks to petition for a criminal record expungement, one of the best resources to obtain is that of a qualified and experienced attorney. An attorney who has experience in criminal background expungements will be able to determine if the record can be expunged, the time restrictions to file for an expungement, and lastly, will be able to file the expungement for you. Further, in many states you may have the option to use the service of a “paralegal” or Legal Document Assistant for helping complete the paperwork and filing.
