How a Drug Crime Can Affect Your Future
Drug convictions can not only affect your current financial and legal situation, but also your future. Understanding the short and long-term consequences of a drug conviction in New Jersey is important as you build your defense.
How a Drug Conviction Affects Your Future
Drug convictions in New Jersey can have the following consequences:
- Difficulty maintaining your employment: You will have a lot of court dates and potential jail time, which can lead to you losing your job.
- Difficulty finding new employment: Even finding employment will be harder with a criminal record. Employers may choose not to hire you after a background check.
- Inability to get loans: A criminal record can also lead to the inability to get loans. Some loans, like credit unions or federal student loans, may not be available to you.
- Inability to find housing: Landlords may also request a background check and deny you housing.
- It may be used when negotiating child custody: If you have a child, your criminal record may be used when negotiating child custody. You may also be limited when it comes to adopting or fostering children in the future.
- Forfeiture of your assets: Some drug charges may also require that you forfeit your personal assets. This might include your home or vehicle.
These are just a few of the potential consequences. A criminal record is also public which means your neighbors and co-workers may also know of your crimes. If you have children, they may find out about your record or they may have friends whose parents find out about it.
Your Options Following a Criminal Charge
Some drug charges, depending on the type, can lead to an automatic felony. The quantity of drugs in your possession will also make a difference to your charges. These details matter in the bigger picture of your drug charges as they can have an effect on the consequences. They will also make a difference when it comes to building your defense.
Protect Your Future By Hiring the Right Lawyer
Criminal charges can affect your life in many ways. In addition to the immediate legal fines and potential jail time, your charges could follow you for the rest of your life. That is why it is important to take action now. The sooner that you reach out to a criminal defense lawyer, the more options that may be available to you. Your lawyer also needs time to build your case.
While it may not be possible to have all charges dropped, there may be some room for reducing them. Reducing your charges could mean the difference of jail time or lifelong supervision which has a lasting effect.
Many employers, landlords, and even neighbors use a person’s criminal history to measure their honesty and credibility. Getting your charges reduced could help you protect your reputation and your future. It could ensure that you have employment and housing options, regardless of your charges. When your future is at risk, you need a knowledgeable lawyer that can build a defense around the details of your case.
Contact an Experienced Cherry Hill Drug Defense Attorney About Your Drug Crime Charges in New Jersey
Have you been charged with a drug-related offense in New Jersey? A drug crime conviction can carry with it heavy fines, jail time, and driver’s license suspension. That is why it is imperative that you speak with a qualified drug defense lawyer about your case. The lawyers at Gelman Law, LLC represent clients charged with use, possession, production, distribution, and related drug offenses in Cherry Hill, Camden County, Burlington County, Gloucester County, and throughout New Jersey. Call 856-474-1450 or fill out our confidential online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office located at 850 Rt 70 West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
