Felony charges for driving under the influence (DUI) may have numerous effects on your life. They may even impact any potential job search you carry out. Can you even get a job with a felony DUI on your record in California?
You can get some jobs with a felony charge on your record. However, employers may hesitate to hire you with a felony charge. Keep reading to learn more about how a felony DUI could affect your ability to find work.
Employers Discover Past Felony Charges With a Background Check
It’s standard procedure for prospective employers to run a background check before hiring an employee. Criminal convictions will show up on background checks using:
- Your social security number (SSN).
- Your fingerprints.
A felony conviction will show up on these checks. Employers may decide not to hire you if you have a felony conviction on your record. Many groups have protected status when it comes to employment practices in California. For example, employers may not refuse to hire you because of your gender or nationality. This protection is not offered to individuals convicted of felonies.
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California’s “Ban the Box” Law and Employment After a Felony
The state of California has taken steps to help individuals convicted of a felony when they want to secure employment. The Fair Chance Act restricts when your criminal history can be assessed.
Employers must make you a conditional offer of employment before reviewing your criminal record. Once they make an employment offer, they may run a background check. They may decide to hire you regardless of a felony conviction in this case. However, they are not required to hire you. If they choose to take back the job offer, they must:
- Notify you and explain why they are rescinding the job offer.
- Allow you to explain the felony conviction.
- Provide you with a formal statement about their decision.
The Fair Chance Act may help you secure employment even with a felony DUI on your record. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act with a law firm from California.
Understand Expungements and Felony DUI Charges
Many drivers convicted of a DUI are familiar with the expungement process. Expunging a criminal conviction prevents it from further affecting your life. However, in the majority of cases, a felony cannot be deleted from your record.
The expungement of a criminal charge is only possible if you meet certain conditions. For example, you cannot erase a charge that led to time in prison. Most felony charges are punished with prison time in California — this automatically disqualifies you from seeking expungement.
Other Effects of a Felony DUI in California
Thus far, we have discussed the impact of a felony DUI on your job hunt in California. However, there are other repercussions for a felony DUI conviction. You may face numerous consequences for a conviction, including:
- Years in prison.
- Thousands of dollars in fines.
- Orders to install an ignition interlock device (IID).
- Years in DUI school.
These penalties may impact your life for years to come. Additionally, a felony charge on your record affects more than your job search. Potential landlords may also perform a background check. They may not approve a rental application based on a felony charge. Institutions of higher education also carry out background checks.
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Handle a Felony DUI Charge Before a Conviction
As you can see, a felony conviction for a DUI may have serious consequences for your life. You may get help handling these charges before you are convicted by reaching out to a DUI lawyer in California. A lawyer could work to get your felony charges reduced to a misdemeanor-level offense. Misdemeanors are eligible for expungement in California in many cases.
A lawyer could also defend you in front of a judge and jury in court. You may avoid a felony conviction on your criminal record if you are found not guilty. Learn more about your legal options right now.
Discuss Your Ability to Get a Job With a Felony DUI With a Lawyer
You may get a job with a felony DUI in California. However, many employers hesitate to hire employees with felony convictions. Find out how to handle a felony accusation before it turns into a conviction. Contact the Simmrin Law Group now to get help. You could also fill out our online contact form.
We offer clients in your situation a free consultation. Reach out to us now to learn more.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form