If you are a Connecticut felony offender, you may know that, in addition to fines, jail time and other criminal repercussions you may face for your crime, you may also face penalties that come from sources outside the criminal justice system. Known as “collateral consequences,” these repercussions can hinder your ability to live life as you once knew it, and they can have a negative impact on multiple areas. Joseph J. Colarusso recognizes the many ways in which having a felony conviction on your record can cause you trouble, and we have helped many clients facing similar circumstances pursue solutions that meet their needs.
According to CT.gov., a felony conviction can make it harder to do everything from find housing to obtain public assistance. More specifically, your landlord may be able to evict you if you receive a felony conviction while living in a landlord-owned property, and you may also find it more difficult to find a place that will accept you as a tenant in the first place.
A felony conviction will also keep you from voting or holding public office, and it also means you cannot serve jury duty for a set amount of time. If your felony conviction involved drugs, you may also find that it can hinder your ability to recieve financial aid for college. If you were arrested for a felony crime during a time in which you were receiving financial aid, you can anticipate losing that aid, though the amount of time you will become ineligible for it will vary based on additional details.
Having a felony conviction on your record can also lead to deportation, if you are an immigrant, and it can also result in ineligibility for public assistance for food, housing, medical care and so on. Find more about how drug and other crimes can impact your life on our web page.
