Felony Conviction

From the Law Office of Alison Grinter in Dallas, Texas

Collateral Consequences of any Felony Conviction

Everyone convicted of a felony level offense in Texas can look forward to the following consequences no matter what the sentence they receive:

• Felony convictions are permanent. Your criminal record will show a felony conviction even after you are deceased.
• Loss of the right to vote until you are discharged from prison, probation, or parole
• Permanently disqualified from jury service
• Lifetime ban on using, possessing, or transporting a firearm or body armor or ammunition.
• A person who has been convicted of a felony, can not get Probation from a jury in a later case. Probation may still be available from a judge in a plea or trial before the Court, but a jury, whether hearing a plea or a trial, can not give probation to someone who has a felony conviction.See § 42.12 Sec. 4(e) Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
  
• If you have a professional license (lawyer, teacher, cosmetologist, engineer, etc.) or any state license (other than a driver license) you will be subject to review and the loss or suspension of your license. It will be up to the licensing board to make a final determination.
• Employers, creditors, apartments, and other agencies will be able to learn of your conviction in the public record, and this may influence their decisions.
• Inelligible to become a foster or adoptive parent for at least 10 years
• Unable to serve as the executor or administrator of an estate in probate court
  
• Inelligible to enlist in any service of the Armed Forces 10 U.S.C. § 504.
  
• The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act prohibits anyone convicted of a drug-related felony from receiving both federally-funded cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and food stamps

It is important to note that many of these consequences do not apply to individuals given Deferred Adjudication, because it does not result in a finding of guilt or final conviction if successfully completed.

Discuss this article with the Law Office of Alison Grinter