What Is the Long-Term Impact of a Drug Conviction?

Many people don't think much of drug convictions, especially misdemeanor convictions. What's the worst that can happen? Get slapped with a fine and spend a few nights in jail. No big deal, right?

But those are just the short-term legal consequences of a minor drug conviction. It's really the long-term consequences you should be worried about. They're the ones that will most severely impact your life.

So what is the long-term impact of a drug conviction in Texas?

Non-Legal Consequences of a Drug Conviction

Aside from the obvious fact that you have a black mark on your criminal record, your drug conviction can affect your life in many ways:

• • Drug convictions, whether misdemeanors or felonies, can bar you from many types of employment opportunities.

• • You could be ineligible for certain government programs, loans, and housing opportunities.

• • You could seriously impact your family situation, and custody of the children could go to your spouse in the event of a divorce.

• • A permanent legal resident could be deported because of a drug charge-even a misdemeanor.

• • Your conviction can increase your punishment for any future crimes you may be convicted of. For example, a second offense is more seriously punished than a first offense, and so on.

• • You could lose some of your rights, such as the right to bear arms, the right to vote, and the right to sit on a jury.

Get Help from a Texas Drug Charge Lawyer

We know the plea deal the prosecutor is offering sounds tempting, especially if it includes no jail time, but a qualified drug charge attorney can most likely get you a better deal. In many cases, we can even get the prosecutor to drop the charges.