What are the consequences of a criminal conviction for a felony or misdemeanor?
There are many consequences of a conviction of crime, whether the conviction is a felony or misdemeanor. Convicted felons lose many of their civil rights such as voting and the right to jury service. They may lose certain government benefits, professional licenses and security clearances. Residents from other countries, even if they possess Resident Alien or green cards, can face deportation. Unfortunately, many convicted felons lose their job. The consequences of a misdemeanor conviction are often less severe. However, with the availability of court dockets on the internet, employers still can fairly easily find out about cases involving their employees. Many misdemeanor cases, both criminal and traffic, can be resolved so that the record of the case can be expunged or sealed. In either case, the potential consequences of a conviction are quite serious.
