What Is a Felony and Why Does It Matter?

A felony is a criminal charge that is more severe than a misdemeanor, and as such, carries more serious penalties. If you have been convicted of a felony, you are considered a felon, and this can have a negative impact on your life. A felony defense attorney can help to fight the charges you are facing, which is important to helping you maintain a more normal life. Here are a few of the ways that being convicted of a felony can impact your life.

A Felony Can Impact Your Ability to Travel

If you are convicted of a felony, it can impact your ability to travel. You may lose your passport until you have completed your sentence and parole. However, even once you have completed your time, there are many countries, including Canada, that refuse to allow felons into their country, even for a vacation. A felony defense attorney can help you fight the charges you are facing so this doesn’t happen to you.

A Felony Can Impact Your Ability to Vote

Over 5 million Americans were not able to vote in the 2020 elections due to their felony convictions, according to DataProt. There are nine states in the United States where an individual can lose their right to vote forever due to a felony conviction and 15 states where felons have to fully complete their sentence, including parole, to get their voting rights back. The other states allow a felon to vote after being released from prison or jail. If you reside in a state where your right to vote may be impacted by a felony, you may want to hire a felony defense attorney to help you fight the charges you are facing.

A Felony Can Affect Your Ability to Get a Job

A felony conviction can affect you by limiting the jobs you can get. Nearly every type of job application asks if you have been convicted of a felony. If you check yes, employers may be hesitant to hire you. Hiring a felony defense attorney provides you with the best opportunity to fight criminal charges.
If you have been charged with a felony, you will want to work with a felony defense attorney. A felony defense attorney can give you the best shot at overcoming the charges you are facing, helping to prevent you from losing your ability to travel, your ability to vote, and your ability to get certain types of jobs. Contact The Law Office of Nick L. Olguin today if you need assistance with felony charges.

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