If found guilty of a felony in California, you will likely get a jail sentence, a fine, or both. However, that is not all there is to a conviction. You may have to deal with other long-term repercussions that may affect your quality of life even after you have done your time.
Perhaps the most obvious outcome of your conviction is that you will end up with a criminal record. It may be hard to secure employment or housing when a prospective employer or landlord runs a background check and finds out about your criminal past. Here are other ways a felony conviction may negatively affect your life.
You will lose certain individual rights
In California, convicted felons lose their right to vote if they are incarcerated or on parole release. Although the right to vote is restored once they have completed their sentence or parole, one must re-register to vote.
A felony conviction can also impact your constitutional right to keep and bear arms. You may no longer buy or possess a gun if you have been convicted of a felony. Authorized gun dealers in California run background checks on potential buyers, making it impossible for a convicted felon to purchase firearms legally.
Other unintended consequences of a felony conviction include the loss of your parental rights and possible travel restrictions when another country denies you entry or admission due to your criminal record.
Going against your felony charges
The only way to avoid these and other ramifications of a felony conviction is by going against your charges. There are various defenses you can employ to improve your chances of a not-guilty verdict depending on the circumstances of your charges.
It may be beneficial to reach out for help on the best way of going about your defense since it may be the only way out. Having the proper counsel will also help protect your rights and interests at every stage of your case.