The Impact of a Felony Conviction: How It Changes Your Life
Did you know that being convicted of a felony can affect every aspect of your life? First of all, a felony conviction usually means serving a prison sentence. You could also be facing substantial debt from fines and fees. But worst of all, a felony conviction changes your entire life. It means losing privileges like the right to vote or bear arms, and it can impact your personal relationships as well as your opportunities for housing, education, and employment.
When you understand just how serious the effects of a conviction can be, you’ll also realize why hiring the right lawyer can make all the difference.
How a Felony Will Follow You for the Rest of Your Life
A felony conviction means going to prison.
Every felony carries a minimum sentence. Depending on the class of crime and the number of previous convictions, sentences can range from six months to life in prison. If it’s a first offense, your lawyer might be able to get the sentence reduced to probation instead of a prison term.
Going to prison affects your relationships and social life.
For many people, serving a prison sentence means losing some of their closest relationships. For others, it makes maintaining those relationships harder.
Some relatives or friends might feel like they can’t trust someone who has been convicted of a crime. They might worry about the possibility of further crimes, and their loved one being sent away to prison again. Other friends or relatives might break off the relationship entirely. Divorces and custody changes are common after a felony conviction, and many friendships fail the test of incarceration.
A felony record limits your housing opportunities.
Landlords are legally allowed to screen their potential renters for felony convictions. They are able to look at convictions as far back as seven years.
Landlords are encouraged by federal guidelines not to institute blanket bans on felony convictions. However, this is still a very common practice, especially for convictions involving drugs or violent offenses.
A felony conviction also means losing certain rights and privileges.
A felony conviction means losing:
- The right to vote in national elections
- The right to serve on a jury
- The right to own firearms
- Eligibility for SNAP benefits
- Eligibility for financial aid for higher education
- Admission to some colleges
- Entry into certain countries
- Certain professional licenses
You’ll have heavy fines and fees to pay.
Every criminal conviction means having to pay fines, court fees, and attorney fees, as well as restitution to the victims in some cases. Unfortunately, that is not all.
Having a felony on your record can make it even harder to pay those fees and fines. Many employers screen for criminal records, and might decide not to hire or choose others for promotions because of the stigma of a conviction. You could lose your eligibility for mortgages or loans, as well as scholarships and financing for higher education. A conviction can also keep you from obtaining some professional licenses and limit your ability to find gainful employment.
Additionally, you might have to pay for an interlock device, drug and alcohol counseling, anger management classes, or other types of therapy as assigned by the judge.
If You Are Facing a Felony in Scottsdale, You Need a Good Lawyer on Your Side
As you can see, a felony conviction can change your life. When there’s a felony on your record, life gets a lot harder. Don’t let that happen to you! If you are facing felony charges, you need a lawyer who is committed to your case and who has the experience to win.
Van Norman Law has been defending criminal cases for over 25 years. We know the ins and outs of the Arizona court system and understand the importance of dedication to our clients. Contact us today for a consultation on your case.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (2/18/2026). Photo by Ivan Lopatin on Unsplash