What does it means to have a felony in Minnesota:
A Minnesota felony means that a crime is punishable by at least one year and one day in prison. Many crimes carry the weight of a Minnesota felony. Some common Minnesota felony crimes include: criminal sexual conduct, driving while impaired (four DWI’s in ten years), theft of $1,000.00 or more, murder, and drug possession. Some Minnesota felonies also carry a life in prison sentence.
What are the collateral consequences of a felony?
Many individuals do not realize that once convicted of a Minnesota felony, it becomes difficult to obtain employment and housing. Many employers will look to see if you have a felony conviction on your record during the hiring process. If convicted of a felony you will also no longer be able to possess or carry a firearm, be able vote, or serve on a jury. Individuals who are here on visas such as work visas or a temporary protected status visa will also have a difficult time getting their visa renewed once convicted of a felony. Additionally, when applying for citizenship or a green card, a felony conviction will create a hardship and will delay your proceedings and your application may be denied.
It may be possible to get your sentence stayed which means that if you successfully complete probation, you will not be sent to prison. It is also possible to get a stay of adjudication which means that your charge will be dismissed upon completion of successful probation. However, if you violate probation, your sentence at that point will be executed. Do not be quick to plead guilty to a felony. Consider all the consequences that accompany a conviction. Hire an experienced Minnesota Felony Criminal Defense Attorney to try to keep a Minnesota Felony off your record. Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys offers a free consultation and has been successful in getting felonies dismissed. Call (952) 913-1421 as soon possible if you have been charged with a felony in Minnesota.
Minnesota recently passed a public safety bill that brings sweeping changes to the state’s juvenile justice system. While minors sometimes run afoul of the law, the juvenile justice system seeks to account for the differences between children and adults. Therefore, while the penalties for adults convicted of crimes focus on punishment, those for juveniles are aimed at diversion and restorative practices.
