Source: http://www.moorelawfirmwv.com/News/Think-Before-You-Plead-Collateral-Consequences-of-Felony-Conviction.shtml
Timestamp: 2017-12-15 08:23:29
Document Index: 326100063

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3', '§ 52', '§ 6', '§ 61', '§ 5', '§ 17', '§ 1227', '§ 61']

Think Before You Plead: Collateral Consequences of Felony Conviction | The Moore Law Firm, PLLC | Morgantown, West Virginia
Think Before You Plead: Collateral Consequences of Felony Conviction
Criminal defendants are often persuaded into pleading to a felony charge to avoid incarceration or the risks associated with a jury trial. Often, those individuals are unaware of the collateral consequences associated with a felony conviction. The consequences of a felony conviction are far and wide and impact almost every aspect of a person's life, including education, employment, recreation, travel, and housing. This article only highlights a portion of the collateral consequences of a felony conviction. For a more in-depth list of collateral consequences, please visit the National Institute of Justice's website at http://www.abacollateralconsequences.org/.
Any person convicted of a felony is disqualified from:
Voting - W. Va. Code § 3-2-2(b)
Serving on Jury - W. Va. Code § 52-1-8
Holding Public Office - W. Va. Code § 6-5-5
Possessing Firearm - W. Va. Code § 61-7-7
Receiving Public Retirement Benefits - W. Va. Code § 5-10A-4
Driving a Commercial Vehicle - W. Va. Code § 17E-1-13(b)
Additionally, an individual's license to practice in a certain profession or occupation can be revoked based upon a felony conviction. Some common examples include:
Felony convictions will always remain on a person's criminal record. West Virginia has no procedure for the expungement of a felony conviction.
A felony conviction can also present problems for immigration. Individuals classified as an "alien" are deportable if convicted of a felony under 8 U.S.C. § 1227.
For individuals who have previously been convicted of a felony, the recidivist statute, W. Va. Code § 61-11-18, permits a prosecutor to enhance a sentence for a subsequent felony offense.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in representing individuals charged with felony offenses. We explain the consequences of a felony conviction to ensure our clients make an informed decision about their case.