The best way to beat a felony is not to get arrested. However, should you be arrested for a felony there are two very important things you must do:

#1 – DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR CASE WITH ANYONE EXCEPT AN ATTORNEY!! All calls in the jail are recorded, and your “cellmate” will rat you out if it means getting a better deal. Only discuss your case with your attorney. If you tell anyone else anything the State will try to use what you said as evidence against you.

#2 – Hire an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney!! If you have been charged with a felony, you need a good lawyer to represent your interests. Here are some of the things an experienced lawyer will do to help you beat your charge:

1. Once you hire an attorney, the lawyer will ask to view all of the evidence against you. The lawyer will also take statements of any and all witnesses. By doing this a good attorney can find weaknesses in the State’s case that may help you either beat the charge or get the charge reduced.
2. The attorney will talk with your witnesses. If they have helpful information the attorney will list them in your case. That way they will be able to testify on your behalf.
3. Make all of your necessary court appearances. If you fail to appear at a mandatory court date, the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest.
4. Stay under the radar! Don’t do things that violate the terms of your release and don’t do anything that could result in more charges being brought against you. Don’t return to the location where the crime supposedly occurred and do not associate with co-defendants until the conclusion of the case.
5. Be honest and up front with your attorney! If you lie to your attorney they can’t help you. It is very important you tell them EVERYTHING! The attorney can not reveal anything you tell them to the Court. But if you don’t tell them and it comes out later in trial it may hurt your case. So make sure you tell them everything that happened.

No lawyer can ever guarantee an outcome in a criminal case. But by following the steps above you can put yourself in the best position to get the most favorable outcome for your situation.

A felony stays on your record forever unless you are eligible to have the record sealed or expunged. Even if the record is sealed or expunged, law enforcement can access the record. But the general public can’t.

Most applications for jobs, housing or licenses ask the question “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” If you say yes, they ask what year. This means even if the background check they perform does not go back as far as your arrest, they may still find out about your charge.

If you are convicted of a felony, you can petition to have your civil rights restored after 10 years. But this does not erase the felony from your record.

If you have been arrested for a felony, make sure you hire an attorney to help protect your rights. A conviction can result in the loss of a job, voting rights, the right to own a firearm and can ever result in eviction from housing or homeowner associations. If you think you qualify for an expungement contact an attorney immediately to start the process. The sooner you can seal the record the better off you will be.

Yes. Felony arrests show up on a background check. These are usually the charges the agency is looking for when they perform the check as they are considered to be very serious. Felony charges can affect an employer’s insurance or bond rates. This means if you have a felony, the employer may not hire you. If you are applying for housing the association may disqualify you for a felony conviction. If you are applying for a professional license, the felony may disqualify you from obtaining the license.

Most applications for jobs, housing or licenses ask the question “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” If you say yes, they ask what year. This means even if the background check they perform does not go back as far as your arrest, they may still find out about your charge.

If you have been arrested for a felony, hire a lawyer immediately! Protect your rights. If you have a felony on your record, contact an attorney to see if you qualify for expungement. In either case, speak to an attorney to see what you can do to protect your good name in the event you must get a background check.

It depends on the type of job you are applying for. Some jobs such as home health, nursing or other jobs in the medical profession will not allow you to work with pending drug charges. You may not be able to obtain a job that requires a professional license.  If you have a job as a teacher or teacher’s aide you may not be able to work while the charge is pending.

Many jobs today require random drug testing. This is true even if you are a stock person or cashier. A pending drug charge may prompt your employer to test you in accordance with the company policy.

It also may make a difference whether the charge is a misdemeanor or felony. Some jobs disqualify applicants automatically for felony charges. It may also make a difference to your employer what type of drug it is. Some employers may not care about a marijuana charge, but will not consider hiring you for cocaine. It may also make a difference to an employer whether the charge is for possession of drugs or sale of drugs.

These are just some of the considerations an employer considers when you apply for a job with a pending drug charge. If you have been arrested contact an attorney to discuss your options and how to put yourself in the best light for future employers.

Felony convictions have a large impact on your life. There are several civil rights that you lose, and in some cases you are forced to register with the local sheriff’s office for the rest of your life. But the worst impact is on your ability to keep a job.

Many companies will conduct a background check prior to hiring an individual for a position. Most companies will not hire someone with a felony conviction. Also, a felony conviction can result in a suspension of some professional licenses making it illegal for an employer to hire you.

However, there are companies that receive tax breaks for hiring individuals who have been convicted of a felony. There are also bonding policies (sort of like insurance policies) that are available for people who have been convicted. These policies assure an employer that if you do something wrong, the company will be covered. Smaller companies are more likely to hire you than a larger chain. You can also work for yourself.

To find a list of employers who are willing to hire felons or to obtain a bonding policy, contact your local workforce development office. They can assist you with job placement.

A felony is a crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison.

Most of the time felonies are serious crimes such as murder, rape and burglary. But sometimes three or more convictions of a “simple” or “stupid” crime, like petit theft, driving on a suspended license or a DUI charge can be filed as a felony.

A felony conviction can have serious consequences. It can result in loss of civil rights such as the right to vote or have a firearm. If you live in housing that requires a background check or security clearance it can result in eviction. It may also impact your job or professional licensing. If you have been accused of a felony it is important to have good representation to protect you.