It’s no secret that even a first offense drunk driving conviction can have an immediate impact on your life. Jail time, license suspension, fines, and points on your license are some of the immediate penalties imposed upon drunk driving conviction. But what about long-term consequences?
An article recently published in the New York Times details how even a misdemeanor like a Michigan first offense drunk driving can affect an offender’s life for years after a conviction. With the state of the job market, in which each job can have hundreds of applicants, an employer can easily cut their work in the hiring process by weeding out anyone with a criminal conviction.
And, as the article states, with nine out of ten employers now running background checks on applicants, it’s not getting any easier for people to bounce back from a criminal conviction. According to the article:
“Even your lower-paying fast-food jobs are now doing background checks,” he said. “How can I pay child support if I can’t get a job?”
But long-term effects aren’t limited to just difficulty getting jobs. The NYT article also points out that a crime like a first offense drunk driving in Michigan can cause a college application to be denied. This is because colleges and universities are routinely requiring reporting of criminal convictions in the college application process.
The problems don’t stop with job loss and loss of opportunities like college; even landlords are now running background checks before potential tenants are allowed to rent apartments. This means that a single drunk driving conviction can cause an immediate job loss, the inability to get a new job, the inability to further opportunities through a college education, and might even result in the loss of a living place.
If you have been charged with misdemeanor or felony drunk driving in Michigan, and want to learn about how a conviction might impact your future, then please contact the Barone Defense Firm today. Ask for attorney Ryan Ballard and he will provide you with a no-obligation consultation.
Our team of DUI experts can help you avoid a criminal conviction that could have life-changing consequences.
This post was written by...
Ryan Ballard – who has written 2 posts on Michigan DUI and License Restoration Lawyers.
Attorney Ryan Ballard is the first line of defense for people who need information about being charged with an OWI. If you are accused of OWI, Mr. Ballard will be there to answer your questions, empower you with information about how the process will move forward in court, and tell you what can be done to get a good result in your case. Mr. Ballard is passionate about guiding clients of the Barone Defense Firm through the complexities of the legal system. He holds a Political Science degree from Western Michigan University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. As a law student, he worked as a judicial clerk in the Oakland County Circuit Court and as a probate advocate in the Kalamazoo County Probate Court. After passing Michigan bar exam in 2011, Mr. Ballard represented professional athletes and also assisted clients with estate planning.