A criminal charge can result in a variety of consequences. People who plead guilty or get convicted face a criminal sentence that may restrict their freedoms and cost them money. Some types of offenses may lead to the loss of a driver’s license.
Convictions also create a criminal record, which can limit an individual’s opportunities and damage their reputation. People facing prosecution often fear the possibility of others finding out about their pending charges. Some people even rushed to plead guilty in the hopes of avoiding the attention a trial might attract.
Pleading guilty does not prevent others from learning about a criminal offense. Thankfully, there are certain ways for people to limit the reputation damage and professional setbacks that a criminal charge could generate.
Avoid a criminal conviction
The best way to prevent a criminal charge from affecting the defendant’s reputation and career is to avoid a conviction. Perhaps a defense attorney can exclude certain evidence due to police officer misconduct. The prosecutor may then have to dismiss the pending charges.
Maybe the state built its case based on junk science or misinterpreted the evidence available. Working with an attorney to develop a robust criminal defense strategy can allow people to honestly state after the trial that they were not convicted and therefore did not actually commit the crime.
Negotiate a plea bargain
Plea deals are common in part because they benefit defendants. An attorney negotiating with the prosecutor could secure lesser charges. The state might agree to drop secondary charges for a guilty plea to one primary offense or could reduce a felony charge to a misdemeanor crime in exchange for a guilty plea.
Plea deals can also potentially include provisions limiting what the prosecutor submits to the courts. Excluding certain information from the public record could potentially help prevent details about criminal accusations from affecting personal and professional opportunities in the future.
Expunge the record later
It is sometimes possible to remove blemishes on an individual’s criminal record. People can expunge or seal the record of a misdemeanor conviction if they wait four years after serving their sentence. It may also be possible to seal the records of arrests and charges that did not result in convictions.
Responding appropriately after an arrest can make a major difference for someone accused of breaking the law. With appropriate help and the right response, criminal defendants can minimize the impact that an arrest has on their reputation and professional opportunities.