Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.
A criminal defense lawyer can help you understand how a guilty criminal plea could impact your life. The lawyer can also review the charges you are facing, answer your questions, and discuss your constitutional rights and defense options.
At Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys, we believe every criminal defendant is entitled to evidence-supported legal advice and representation. Call us at (952) 913-1421 to request a free initial consultation.
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How a Guilty Plea Impacts Your Criminal Record in Minnesota
A guilty plea allows the court and law enforcement agencies to record the conviction on your criminal record. This plea means you acknowledge you committed the crime as charged and accept the punishment imposed by the judge or plea deal. The punishment often includes fines, imprisonment, probation, and sex-offender registration for sex-related convictions.
A guilty criminal plea removes your right to a trial, which requires the prosecutor to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the alleged crime. Another plea that can waive your right to a trial is the no-contest plea. There is, however, a difference between pleading no contest vs. guilty.
A new conviction will remain in your record forever, unless you request an expungement and the court grants it. The conviction will impact the severity of penalties imposed on you for future offenses and convictions. It will also result in secondary implications commonly known as collateral effects of criminal convictions.
Financial and Collateral Consequences Most Defendants Don’t Expect
The consequences of a criminal conviction go beyond legal penalties, such as fines and incarceration. A guilty conviction can result in significant financial and collateral consequences.
Financial Consequences
Criminal charges can leave a huge dent in your savings, even when working with a public defender. You may lose a significant amount of money due to missed work or business opportunities when in jail or court.
Collateral Consequences
Limited Employment Opportunities
Up to 87% of employers conduct rigorous criminal background checks of job applicants. Many are reluctant to hire applicants who have served time in jail. Over 60% of formerly incarcerated individuals don’t land jobs within a year of release.
Housing Rights
People with criminal records often get denied access to public housing. Moreover, federal law empowers local housing authorities to exercise discretion when allocating opportunities based on an applicant’s criminal activity.
Public Assistance
A criminal record also limits one’s access to public assistance. If finding a job or housing is a problem, public assistance can offer a much-needed safety net. But a record makes life tougher for returning citizens. It may render them ineligible for public services, such as food stamps and other public health benefits.
License Revocations
A criminal conviction can lead to the suspension or revocation of your professional license. Certain careers require professional licenses. These include careers in healthcare, private security, law enforcement, law, and truck driving. Besides losing your professional license, you may also lose your driving privileges either temporarily or permanently after a DUI conviction.
Diversion Programs: Alternatives to Avoid a Plea Deal
Low-level misdemeanors and criminal misconduct may qualify a convicted person for other favorable alternatives to plea bargains. Diversion programs are designed to address the issues that led to involvement in criminal activity. These programs provide offenders an opportunity to complete legal requirements in exchange for dismissal of their charges. Offenses that may qualify you for a diversion program in Minnesota include shoplifting, driving without a license, and traffic citations.
Why You Should Consult a Criminal Defense Lawyer Before Entering a Plea
You are more likely to accept an unfavorable plea deal when you fail to consult a criminal defense lawyer beforehand. You still need a criminal defense lawyer even if you think you’re guilty. A lawyer can help in the following ways:
Professional Case Review
Most people who agree to guilty pleas do so because they think the prosecution can get a conviction. Don’t be so certain. A criminal defense lawyer can review your case to determine the legality of the arrest and charges. The prosecution intimidates suspects, claiming it has a stronger case. A lawyer will carefully analyze the case file, the evidence against you, and legal violations committed during arrest and evidence collection. Your attorney will ensure you’re not entering a plea for a case that can be won at trial.
Alternative Defense Options
You may want to agree to a guilty plea because you think there’s no way you can beat the criminal charges. With an experienced lawyer, you may discover other defense options to counter the charges. The lawyer knows how plea bargains work. The lawyer will scrutinize every legal process that led to the plea agreement meeting. Your lawyer may file an evidence suppression motion if law enforcement officers violated your constitutional rights during search, arrest, seizure, or evidence preservation.
Negotiating a Better Plea Deal
A plea deal is an agreement that ensures case resolution without a trial. Agreeing to the prosecution’s initial proposal means you may not be getting the best possible deal. A criminal defense lawyer can negotiate a better deal. He or she can make the difference between imprisonment and freedom.
Do not rush into entering a guilty criminal plea, even if you think you are guilty. Instead, give a chance to criminal defense lawyers at Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys to mount an aggressive defense on your behalf. We have helped many criminal defendants in Minnesota win their cases or secure the best possible outcome. Contact us today to discuss your case with one of our lawyers.
