If you have a criminal record, it affects many aspects of your life, including your employment. In this age of accessible information, current and potential employers won’t find it difficult to lookup local arrests. Several things may determine the actual effects that an arrest has on your employment status, whether you are looking for a job or already have one. Some of these contributing factors include:

Location

Depending on where you live and work, certain laws determine what employers may do with information of a past or recent arrest. Certain states have laws against employers asking about prior arrests and using that information to determine whether or not you’re hired.

Other states, such as Texas, do not bar employers from making such an inquiry. For instance, if you were arrested 17 years ago, regardless of your current status, your employer may lookup such information and let it negatively affect their decision to hire you.

What The Record Says

Most people don’t understand that regardless of dropped charged or a dismissed case, arrest records remain. Employers might look into whether or not your arrest reached a conviction, but others may not.

Unless your criminal record of arrest has been expunged, that record of arrest can haunt you for years to come. Even then, job applications that require a criminal background check may turn up record of a misdemeanor. In this case, your employer may ask you to provide documentation proving a resolution without conviction.

Severity Of The Accused Crime

Now that you know most employers have the ability to view past and current criminal records, consider what you would do in their shoes. Do you want to hire or continue employing someone with a criminal record?

It probably depends on what your employee was accused of doing in this hypothetical. Certain crimes such as disorderly conduct represent a far less severe problem, as opposed to driving under the influence or a homicide charge. Don’t rely on the smallness of your accused crime to save your job. Some employers choose immediate termination, regardless of the reason for arrest.

Obviously, laws and outcomes vary based on location and your given or potential employer. For this reason, it’s essential to consult with an attorney like Jeremy Rosenthal, a criminal defense lawyer in Collin County, TX, in the event of an arrest.

This helps you obtain professional legal advice to help you navigate the laws and requirements that come with a criminal arrest. You’ll also have a much better chance to avoid negative effects on your current and future employment status.