It’s unfortunate that so many people don’t take misdemeanor charges seriously. They think it’s no big deal and won’t truly affect their life in the long run, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
If they only knew that a misdemeanor conviction on their record could have many of the same negative consequences as a felony, maybe they would have taken that charge a little more seriously. Maybe they would have tried to fight it.
It’s true that the legal penalties for a misdemeanor can be much less than for a felony charge. In some cases, you may only face a small fine or spend a night or two in jail. For some misdemeanor charges, you may be looking at treatment or even probation, but these are all minor, temporary punishments.
It’s the non-legal, long-term consequences you should be worried about.
Depending on your crime, it may affect your employment opportunities. Certainly, some crimes will look worse on your record than others, but even minor drug charges aren’t exactly a good look.
A misdemeanor may also keep you from qualifying for certain government programs, such as housing or loans.
Because of your inability to find good employment, your finances could be forever hindered by that seemingly small misdemeanor charge.
Because your financial situation is impacted, so is your family’s financial situation. They won’t thank you for having to pay your fines, nor will they appreciate the fact that you can’t get a job because of your criminal history.
That misdemeanor crime will remain on your record for a long time—forever in some cases, causing you lifelong embarrassment and regret. Don’t make the mistake of failing to fight a charge because you don’t think it’s going to affect your life.
Get help fighting your misdemeanor charge by speaking with a Sacramento criminal defense lawyer with Crowell Law Offices. Avoiding a conviction means avoiding all the negative effects. Call 916-303-2800 or send in the contact form on our website.
