Felonies are the crimes which are punishable by a minimum of one year in jail, and when a person is accused of one, the first question they usually have may be whether or not they need to hire a felony lawyer in Chicago. Although hiring a lawyer can be expensive, it is something the person will not want to skip on, as a conviction for a felony can have serious implications on the person’s short and long-term future.
Short-Term Implications of a Felony
When the person is convicted of a felony, they will be sentenced to at least a year in jail and may have other penalties. For serious cases, they could be facing ten years or more in prison. Being in jail for a number of years could mean that the person may lose their job and maybe even their home, consequently causing problems in their family and probably losing valuable time with the children if any.
Long-Term Implications of a Felony
When facing jail time, a person will also lose some of their basic rights, like the right to own a gun or the right to vote. In some cases, they may be able to get these rights back at a later time, but it is often difficult to do so. They will also find it incredibly difficult to find employment with a felony on their criminal record, so they may need to look into certain employers that are willing to hire convicted felons and may not be able to continue with the career they worked to build before the felony. They might also have a more difficult time finding a place to live, as many apartments do not want to rent to those who have a felony conviction.
Having a felony conviction can drastically change a person’s life, which is why it is imperative to hire a felony lawyer in Chicago as quickly as possible after their arrest. The lawyer will ensure their rights are upheld and will formulate a defense that reduces their chances of a conviction. Click Here to learn more about hiring felony lawyers and why one is necessary.
