Collateral Effects of a Criminal Conviction (the many ways your life may be affected by the conviction)

by Deborah Bates Riordan, Esq. and Theodore Riordan, Esq.

If you’re convicted by the jury, the judge is going to sentence you.  You may think that the punishment ordered by the judge is the end of it.  Maybe.  But it could also just be the beginning.  This blog discusses the many collateral effects of a criminal conviction.The Bates & Riordan coffee mug on the office law library bookcase.

If you’re not a citizen of the United States, your conviction could affect your immigration status.  You could be deported or denied re-entry into the country.  This is a commonly known affect.

Some other possible affects:  If you live in public housing (perhaps with family), you may not be able to return.  You may not be eligible for a gun permit. You may lose your voting rights.  Your driver’s license may be suspended or revoked.  You may be ineligible for a student loan.

If your conviction was for a sex-related crime, you may need to register with the Sexual Offender Registration Board (SORB).

You may not be eligible to enroll in the military, or you might be separated if you’re already in the military. Future job prospects could be affected, especially if your crime involved driving and you’re looking for a driving job.  Or if you ever want a job involving money or management and your crime involved money or honesty.

If you are issued a license by the state for your trade or profession, you may need to report the conviction to your regulatory board.  That board may issue its own sanctions for your conviction.

This is not an exhaustive list.  But it gives you the flavor that there are many, many ways in addition to what the judge ordered that a criminal conviction can affect your life.  And these effects can be life-long, lasting well after your probation or prison time is over.

Contact us

The attorneys at Bates & Riordan, LLP are very experienced in criminal appeals.  We have handled everything from the simple assaults to first degree murders.  There is no charge for the initial consultation.  Please call us for a free, no-obligation consultation.  If the defendant is incarcerated in Massachusetts, he or she can call us collect at 617-328-8080.