Embezzlement is a serious offense that could land you in immediate trouble. That is, if you are facing an embezzlement charge, you may have to do some time in prison. A judge may also order you to pay restitution and fines.
Unfortunately, you may not be able to leave your embezzlement conviction behind. On the contrary, your criminal record may plague you for the rest of your life. Therefore, it is important that you advocate aggressively for your best interests. If a judge or jury convicts you of embezzlement, though, you may have four long-term consequences.
1. You may lose your job
Trying to pay mounting legal bills while providing for yourself and your family can be challenging. Even worse, if the embezzlement allegations involve your current employer, you will probably lose your job.
2. You may have a difficult time finding future employment
As you probably know, most employers conduct criminal background checks on new hires. In fact, according to a recent study, more than 95 percent of employers use some type of background screening. Therefore, it may be virtually impossible for you to hide an embezzlement arrest or conviction from prospective employers.
3. You may miss out on an education
Like many employers, colleges and universities often research applicants’ backgrounds. When completing an application, you may even have to affirmatively disclose your criminal record. Regardless of how they obtain the information, many schools use criminal convictions as a reason to deny admission.
4. You may not be able to obtain a professional license
Doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals must obtain a license before practicing in their chosen fields. Like institutions of higher education, licensing boards often frown on convictions involving loose morals.
If prosecutors have charged you with embezzlement, you may be in survival mode. That is, you are likely focusing on one day at a time. Eventually, though, your criminal matter will be over. By understanding the long-term problems an embezzlement conviction can cause, you can likely better prepare yourself for tackling post-conviction obstacles.