Collateral consequences of a criminal conviction for students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the University of Alabama in Huntsville
An arrest or a criminal conviction can have collateral consequences for students. This is so even if the arrest does not result in a conviction because, absent action by you, you may well have an arrest record. Fortunately, there are a number of things that a lawyer may be able to do to protect your future.
If you have been charged with a crime that occurred before your 21st birthday Alabama has what is known as "The Youthful Offender Act." The Youthful Offender Act allows judges, in their discretion, to essentially seal what occurs in a juvenile case involving someone who was charged with a crime prior to their 21st birthday.
Students who are older than the age of 21 may, under certain circumstances, be able to "wipe clean." their arrest record through legal proceeding known as an expungement. Be aware, that in Alabama, expungement only applies to cases that did not result in a conviction. For some crimes a dismissal of the charges is enough to allow someone to be qualified to seek expungement for other crimes, the person must be found not guilty in order to qualify for expungement.
For those unfortunate enough to be convicted they may find that collateral consequences include the loss or restriction of their professional license and loss of student loans. In addition, students in fields such as engineering and other STEM subjects may find their future job opportunities severely limited because a criminal case can adversely affect one's ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance.
If you're a student and you're faced with criminal charges, and you'd like our help, feel free to contact us here:
