San Diego Felony Criminal Defense Attorneys

Consequences of a Felony Conviction

Many people, especially those facing a criminal charge for the first time, don't realize at first how drastically a felony conviction can change their lives. Of course, felonies can land you in the prison system; severely restrict your freedom after parole; and make it easier to wind up back in prison. Because they're difficult to erase from your record, felony convictions could affect your future chances at a job, a family and an education. In short, a felony conviction can follow you for the rest of your life, even decades after you served your time. That's why it's so important to hire the best felony criminal defense attorneys you can -- and stop the conviction before it happens.

All felonies carry at least the possibility of time in prison. For many felony crimes, the lowest sentence is one year or 16 months in prison; the most serious felony crimes carry sentences of 25 years to life in prison. During that time, you won't be able to earn money and gain work experience, build relationships or be there for your family. Many crimes also carry financial fines, which can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. But in many cases, judges are allowed to use their discretion during criminal sentencing. Depending on the circumstances, a good California felony crime defense lawyer like the ones at Wallin & Klarich may be able to convince a judge to give you alternatives to prison, including probation, electronic monitoring, work-release programs and other alternative sentences.

Even after you're released from prison, the chances are good that you won't have the same freedoms you enjoyed before. Many parolees must be available to check in with parole officers. Convicted felons may not use or own a firearm, which can be a major problem for people who once made a living as law enforcement officers or in another gun-carrying occupation. For many people, the terms of parole put restrictions on where they can live or travel and who they can see. People convicted of addiction-related crimes may have to submit to drug testing or attend classes; many sex-crime parolees must register with police yearly as sex offenders. In some cases, a parolee must get regular psychiatric treatment or group therapy and wear a GPS device (Global Positioning)

Even outside of the prison system, there are negative consequences to a felony conviction. If you served any time in prison for a felony in California, you cannot expunge or erase your conviction. You may be eligible for a certificate of rehabilitation, which is a document showing that the State of California believes you've been rehabilitated, but you cannot remove the felony from your record entirely. If you win a governor's pardon, the conviction remains on your record but at least it will also state that the Governor of the State of California granted you a pardon. This can be a problem when you're applying for jobs, because you must tell the truth if an employer asks about any felony convictions. Even if the conviction was long ago and was not related to the job, you may face prejudice from these potential employers or others who learn of your conviction.

And if you're ever in trouble with the law again, a felony record can add to that trouble. For many crimes, a past conviction for the same or a similar crime will automatically increase the sentence for any new conviction. Juries may take a past conviction into account even when it's not related to a new charge. Under California's three-strikes law, your sentence could be significantly increased if you have a prior "strike" on your record. A strike is any felony conviction considered serious or violent. If you have even one strike on your record, the sentence for any future felony conviction -- whether or not it was a strike -- will double. After two strikes, you could be sentenced to 25 years to life for any felony at all.

Wallin & Klarich can help. Our firm has practiced law in Southern California for more than 30 years, successfully defending clients from serious felony charges like manslaughter, assault, narcotics violations, sexual assault and handgun crimes. Thanks to our long experience, and the knowledge of the former prosecutors on our staff, we have a strong record of success in our criminal defense cases. We understand the law, and after years practicing law throughout Southern California, we understand the judges, prosecutors and juries we work with every day. If we become your criminal defense attorneys, we will use that knowledge and experience to examine your case for flaws; negotiate to get your charges dismissed or reduced to misdemeanors; and mount an enthusiastic and complete defense in court.

If you're facing felony charges in California, everything is at stake: Your freedom, your financial well-being, your family and your future. It only makes sense to get the best defense you can, by calling Wallin & Klarich. For a free consultation on your case, call us today at 1-888-285-2925.

At Wallin & Klarich, we approach every case with the belief that the person we're defending could easily be one of our own family members. We've seen firsthand how stressful legal matters can be for our clients and their loved ones. We are committed to being available to our clients at all times -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you or someone you love is facing felony criminal charges in Southern California, you should call Wallin & Klarich today for a free evaluation of your case. Call 1-888-285-2925 or fill out our online consultation form to get in contact with a legal professional today. We will be there when you call.