If you’ve ever been charged with a crime, you are more than aware of the potential criminal penalties for the alleged offense. However, one of the most devastating consequences of a run-in with the law is not even technically part of your sentence: having a criminal record.

Most applications for employment, housing, colleges, and loans are subject to a criminal background check. A thorough background check will reveal not only convictions, but also arrests and court proceedings. This means that any kind of criminal legal trouble can be a black mark on your [...]

A criminal record of prior run-ins with the law is a difficult burden to bear. Any prior arrests and court proceedings can easily be found via court record searches. This means that even if you were not convicted of a crime, you still suffer the consequences of having a highly stigmatized “black mark” on your record.

What kind of negative effects can this have?

Consequences of Living with a Criminal Record

A criminal record or prior arrests severely compromises your freedom in many ways. Background checks are routinely run for housing, employment, college [...]

Most people with a criminal record would like the opportunity for a second chance.

When you are arrested and/or charged with a crime—regardless of whether you were convicted—the state creates a file with information related to your case. This file is available to the public for a small fee. You know this file by its common name: a criminal record.

These records may pop up any time someone conducts a background check on you. If you’re applying for a job, housing, or college it’s likely the individual handling your application will look for [...]

 

Long after you’ve served your jail time or prison sentence, paid your fines, and finished out your probation, your criminal record will continue you to follow you. For many offenders in North Carolina, their criminal record represents the gravest consequence associated with a conviction. While incarceration and fines are painful, a criminal record can be life-altering and will remain with you for the rest of your days.

With a criminal stain on your permanent record, you may find it difficult to find employment, secure housing, or obtain a loan. You may be [...]