Recently, a man was charged with domestic violence after a child custody dispute in which his child and another victim became hurt. After any domestic violence dispute, it is natural to worry about your future. You may wonder if you will have to serve jail time, and what other consequences you may have to face. Truthfully, there are many consequences a domestic violence conviction will bring. It is for this reason that if you have been arrested or charged, you should speak to an Allentown criminal defense lawyer that can help you beat the charges.
Employment Issues
Any conviction of a criminal offense will have a drastic impact on your future employment opportunities. If you were employed at the time you were charged or convicted, you may lose your job. If this does happen or you were not employed at the time of the charges, you may find it very difficult to find work in the future. Most employers today perform background checks on any employment candidate they consider hiring and if they see an arrest or conviction, they may move on to another candidate that does not have such a history.
High Fines, Court Costs, and Other Fees
You may think the financial cost of a domestic violence charge is one of the least significant impacts of a domestic violence conviction. Unfortunately, that is not always true. A convection will come with a high fine, regardless of whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony. The maximum fine for a third-degree misdemeanor conviction is $2,500 whereas the fine for a first-degree felony can mean a fine of up to $25,000. These fines are very hefty and can take years for a person to pay off.
Additionally, you may also have to pay court costs and other fees associated with the charge. If you do not pay these fines and fees, you may be sentenced to jail time and your driver’s license may even be suspended, which will also have a financial cost associated with getting it back.
Difficulty Obtaining Higher Education
One of the impacts many people do not consider is that a criminal conviction can make it much more difficult to take advantage of higher education opportunities. Many universities and colleges will not provide scholarships to students with a criminal conviction on their record. Several types of federal financial funding may also be withdrawn or unapproved for students with a criminal conviction.
Our Criminal Defense Lawyers in Allentown Can Help You Avoid Conviction
If you are facing charges of domestic violence, it is of critical importance that you speak to an Allentown criminal defense lawyer right away. At van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim, our skilled attorneys know the defenses available and will determine which one is most appropriate for your case so you can beat the charges. Call us today at 215-515-6892 or fill out our online form to request a consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.
Resource:
pennsylvanianewstoday.com/an-oxford-man-arrested-after-a-baby-was-injured-during-a-child-custody-dispute-daily-local/283887/