Individuals accused of serious drug offenses are often anxious to settle the matter as quickly as possible. In some cases, the choices that they make can actually do more harm than good. For example, many defendants accused of possession and other seemingly minor drug offenses may choose to plead guilty. They may hope that by entering a guilty plea, they can resolve the matter quickly and minimize their personal losses.
While guilty pleas certainly limit the amount of time required to navigate a criminal matter in court, they do not necessarily shield individuals from the worst possible consequences. The record of a drug conviction can impact a defendant’s life indefinitely, with the three consequences below often having the biggest impact on the future of a particular defendant.
1. Educational complications
Many educational institutions perform background checks. Prestigious institutions may decline to extend opportunities to those with criminal records, especially records from within the last decade.
Additionally, a drug conviction can affect eligibility for student aid. Although drug offenses no longer make people permanently ineligible for federal student aid, they may limit access to private scholarships. Many scholarship organizations conduct background checks and may reject applications from those with convictions. Those who have already enrolled may find that they lose financial aid after a conviction.
2. Professional licensing issues
Many of the best-paid professions require a state-issued license. Nurses, for example, have to pass a state test and then maintain a license for as long as they practice medicine. Drug offenses can serve as a red flag in cases where professional licensing is mandatory. Especially for those in health care careers, drug convictions may raise concerns about their ease of access to controlled substances.
3. Background check challenges
Employers typically look at an individual’s criminal history when deciding whether to offer them a position or consider them for a promotion. While many companies do not overtly exclude those with criminal records, a prior conviction can sometimes be the deciding factor when two or more applicants with similar credentials make it to the final round of decision-making. Criminal records can also affect eligibility for volunteer work at grade schools and similar institutions. Even rental housing in high-demand neighborhoods can be harder to acquire with a criminal record.
Choosing to fight pending drug charges instead of immediately pleading guilty can help people limit the long-term consequences of an arrest. Those facing drug charges may need to evaluate the state’s case with a legal professional to effectively understand and exercise their options, and that’s okay.