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Consequences for a Felony
Felony convictions can affect Public Benefits such as housing, food stamps, educational assistance and worker's compensation. The denial of benefits may be for a year to lifetime depending on the charge and the city where the person resides.
Felony convictions may be used to argue against joint custody in a child custody case. Parents convicted of drug offenses or certain Driving Under the Influence offenses (DUI) will be presumed to be unfit unless the parent can show they have not received a felony conviction within the last five years and completed treatment.
Domestic violence may also prevent a parent from receiving joint custody or unsupervised visits with the child.
A person may not vote, serve on a jury, obtain commercial driver’s licenses, possess a gun or join the U.S. armed forces.
Even if a person’s right to carry a weapon is restored he/she will be permanently banned from receiving a concealed weapon’s permit.
A person who is convicted of a felony drug offense and was receiving educational grants and loans is barred from further assistance for 1 year for a first time offense, two years for a second offense and life for a third or more offense.
Felony convictions may affect a person’s marital status, child custody rights and parental status.
People convicted of a felony for possession or sale of controlled substance may lose their ability to obtain food stamps and social security benefits if they are not in compliance with the terms of their probation or parole. The person’s children are eligible for the benefit but the award may be reduced by the number of people in the household with felony drug convictions. However, the state may still use the ineligible person’s income to determine amount of award.
Depending on the offense and the city in which the person lives they may lose their public housing for a short period of time or indefinitely.
A person may be able to join the armed forces if they have their record expunged, charges dismissed or receive a pardon.
A parent’s right to raise their child may be terminated by the state if the parent is incarcerated or committed a crime against a child such as murder or manslaughter or a sexual crime involving a minor. The court may order a severance of a child without requiring CPS to provide efforts to rehabilitate the relationship.
A person may be denied employment by the state or be denied a license or permit or certificate to engage in such professions or occupations by reason of their prior conviction if the offense has a reasonable relationship to the functions of the employment or occupation for which the license, permit or certificate is sought.
The licensing agencies have enormous discretion to deny ex-offenders from obtaining licenses based on a finding or reasonable relationship.
Prohibited Licenses
Rights Altered
Child Custody
Felony convictions may be used to argue against joint custody in a child custody case. Parents convicted of drug offenses or certain Driving Under the Influence offenses (DUI) will be presumed to be unfit unless the parent can show they have not received a felony conviction within the last five years and completed treatment.
Domestic violence may also prevent a parent from receiving joint custody or unsupervised visits with the child.
Civil Penalties
A person may not vote, serve on a jury, obtain commercial driver’s licenses, possess a gun or join the U.S. armed forces.
Even if a person’s right to carry a weapon is restored he/she will be permanently banned from receiving a concealed weapon’s permit.
Educational Assistance
A person who is convicted of a felony drug offense and was receiving educational grants and loans is barred from further assistance for 1 year for a first time offense, two years for a second offense and life for a third or more offense.
Family Issues
Felony convictions may affect a person’s marital status, child custody rights and parental status.
Food Stamps & Social Security Benefits
People convicted of a felony for possession or sale of controlled substance may lose their ability to obtain food stamps and social security benefits if they are not in compliance with the terms of their probation or parole. The person’s children are eligible for the benefit but the award may be reduced by the number of people in the household with felony drug convictions. However, the state may still use the ineligible person’s income to determine amount of award.
Housing
Depending on the offense and the city in which the person lives they may lose their public housing for a short period of time or indefinitely.
Military Service
A person may be able to join the armed forces if they have their record expunged, charges dismissed or receive a pardon.
Severance of Parental Rights
A parent’s right to raise their child may be terminated by the state if the parent is incarcerated or committed a crime against a child such as murder or manslaughter or a sexual crime involving a minor. The court may order a severance of a child without requiring CPS to provide efforts to rehabilitate the relationship.
State Employment or Licenses
A person may be denied employment by the state or be denied a license or permit or certificate to engage in such professions or occupations by reason of their prior conviction if the offense has a reasonable relationship to the functions of the employment or occupation for which the license, permit or certificate is sought.
The licensing agencies have enormous discretion to deny ex-offenders from obtaining licenses based on a finding or reasonable relationship.
Prohibited Licenses
- Chiropractor (felony in the last 12 months)
- Cosmetologist
- Funeral Director and/or embalmer (felony in the last 7 years (D))
- Livestock inspectors (felony in the last 3 years)
- Massage therapist (felony in the last 5 years)
- Permits and Distribution of Drugs
- Pest Control
- Pharmacy Tech
- Podiatrist (felony in the last 12 months)
- Real Estate Licenses