It is certainly true that people who are facing felony allegations are going to be worried about the sentences that they could get. For instance, you may be told to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines for some drug offenses. You could also be worried about spending years behind bars.
But it’s important to remember that the actual ramifications of a felony could be much greater than that. A felony charge is going to stay on your record for life, and it can have a big impact in many areas.
A barrier to employment
One example of how this happens is when people find it difficult to get a job. An employer may run a background check on two employees who are equally qualified for the position. If one employee has a felony record and the other does not, employers will often favor the employee without the record.
The problem with this is that it can often create a cycle that is very hard to break. Say that someone has been arrested because they were selling illegal drugs to make money and support their family. This puts a felony on their record. When they are released, they can’t find any other form of employment because no one will hire them. They quickly turn right back to the illegal activity of selling drugs that they were engaged in before. They still need to make ends meet and feel that they have no options.
This is why it’s so important for those who are facing serious accusations to learn all about their defense options. They may also want to consider things like seeking an expungement to get a felony record sealed or utilizing a drug court to avoid having a felony on their record in the first place.