How A Criminal Conviction Can Affect Employment

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, you may be concerned about how it is going to affect your future employment prospects. Unfortunately, a criminal conviction can have serious consequences on your ability to get a job and even your ability to keep your current employment.

If you are facing criminal charges, you may still have a chance to mount a strong defense and avoid a conviction. Our Georgia criminal lawyers at Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers can evaluate your specific case and explain what you can do to minimize the negative impacts on your employment and other areas of your life.

3 Ways Your Criminal Conviction Can Affect Employment

There are at least three ways your criminal conviction can affect your current and future employment.

1. Your Criminal Records May Become Accessible to Your Employer

If you have ever been convicted of a crime, there is a high possibility that your criminal records are publicly available. Almost every state in the United States has public criminal records, which means that the information about your criminal past can be accessible to anyone who does a background check on you, including current or prospective employers. This can make it challenging for you to find employment as most employers see a criminal record as a liability.

2. Prospective Employers Conduct Background Checks

The competitive job market means that employers are becoming more cautious about whom they hire. Most employers conduct comprehensive background checks before bringing a candidate on board. Background checks can examine everything, including credit history, criminal records, drug tests, and more. If you have a criminal record, this can significantly lower your chances of employment.

3. Certain Convictions May Disqualify You from Employment

While most employers may be open-minded and not hold your past mistakes against you, certain convictions can be a deal-breaker for certain jobs. Jobs that require a security clearance, such as the military or FBI, may require a candidate to have a clean criminal record.

In addition, some industries – including education and healthcare – legally prohibited hiring people with certain criminal records, according to research published on the Internal Revenue Service’s website. For this reason, certain convictions may disqualify you from certain job opportunities.

Note: In 2015, Georgia passed an executive order that prohibited state employers from using criminal records to automatically disqualify individuals from employment, according to the Georgia Department of Administrative Services.

You Still Have a Chance to Avoid a Conviction

If you are facing a criminal charge, the best option is to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer. A skilled lawyer can help minimize the consequences of a criminal conviction or even avoid a conviction altogether. Hiring a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer improves your chances of getting a favorable outcome, and the charges may not appear on your criminal record.

A criminal defense lawyer can help you avoid a conviction by gathering evidence, negotiating with the prosecutor, using legal loopholes, and putting up a robust defense in court. An experienced lawyer can also help minimize the damage of a conviction by arguing for a lighter sentence or advocating for alternatives to incarceration, such as parole or community service.

Avoid a Conviction with the Help of a Lawyer

The impact of a criminal conviction on your employment prospects can be quite pervasive. However, if you are dealing with criminal charges, it is important to remember that hiring a criminal defense lawyer can improve your chances of avoiding a conviction, minimizing consequences, and safeguarding your employment prospects.

Speak with Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers to discuss your defense options. We provide legal counsel to clients in Gwinnett County, Atlanta, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Fulton County, Dunwoody, Cobb County, and Sandy Springs. Call 770-685-6400 to get a free, no-obligation consultation.

Source:

irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/22rpimpactofcriminalrecordsonemployment.pdf