What Is the Long-Term Impact of a Drug Conviction in Illinois?

While laws around recreational marijuana are changing, other drugs may still net you a serious conviction and a harsh sentence. You may already be expecting jail time, and for some people, you may even have prison time on your mind. 

However, that’s not all you’ve got to worry about. You’ll also need to consider what the long-term impact of a drug conviction in Illinois is. Before you accept a conviction, talk to your drug lawyer from Chicago Trusted Attorneys™ if you’re concerned about your future. 

Financial Losses

When you’re accused of committing a drug-related crime, there’s a good chance you’ll be paying for it financially, beyond possible time behind bars. Sometimes, people don’t take that into account—they think the fines for a conviction won’t be so bad, and they’ll be able to simply pay them off and move on. 

Unfortunately, court fines aren’t always so easy to pay off. You may be thousands of dollars in debt now, and you may not have the funds to pay that off for a long time. That’s not to mention that you won’t have the chance to work and pay off your debts while imprisoned. That means you may be years out of the workforce, in debt, and struggling to get a job to pay off those debts after serving your sentence. 

Background Checks May Affect You

Getting a job and getting your life back on track after your case won’t be easy, either. You’re not just released and done with your case. You’ll have a criminal record after that, and that record could affect your future.

For example, some employers won’t hire someone with a misdemeanor or felony on their record. If they perform a background check and find that you have an Illinois drug conviction on your record, they may refuse to hire you. 

That can hurt your housing options, too. Landlords also typically perform background checks before letting you sign a lease, which could bar you from some housing. That could leave you relying on family or friends or finding a less-desirable housing situation, or it could even leave you homeless. 

Don’t Accept an Illinois Drug Conviction—Get Help with Your Case

If you’ve been accused of an Illinois drug crime, you have a chance to avoid these long-term impacts of a drug conviction. When you’ve been accused of a crime in Illinois, you have a chance to fight back to avoid that conviction. 

Your drug lawyer from Chicago Trusted Attorneys™ can help you build a case, representing you in court when you’re struggling with the potential impacts of an Illinois drug conviction. If you’re concerned about your future, give us a call at 312-519-3171 or fill out the online contact form below to learn more about your options.