According to the National Registry of Exonerations’ annual report, over 1,900 years were “lost to prison by defendants exonerated for crimes they did not commit” in 2019. It is a horrific and staggering statistic that no one wants to be a part of. Perhaps at some point you have found yourself in a situation where you have been charged with a crime you did not commit and have been wrongly accused. You may now be wondering whether or not you should fight your criminal charges. Here are some reasons why you should go through the process of fighting your case:
Job Opportunities
As you are aware, employers and business owners across every industry will likely ask for your permission to process a background check on you when applying for employment. This means you will likely agree because if you do not, you may not be eligible or considered for the job. When they do, they will see your criminal charges. This is one of the main reasons why you should fight your criminal charges when you are wrongly accused because you will face challenges when seeking and applying for job opportunities.
Reputation
Protecting your name and reputation should also be a top priority. It is in your name and reputation that will bear the brunt of all the stigmas associated with having a criminal record. Your family, friends, and even your neighbors may ostracize you because of being falsely accused of a crime you did not commit.
Housing
Perhaps you have been excluded from all social gatherings and are now wanting to just start afresh by moving somewhere new. For this reason, fighting your criminal charges is absolutely paramount for you to move to a new apartment or other living arrangement. Just like applying for employment, criminal background checks are becoming the new norm in today’s society, and you would want to have a record that will promote the approval of your housing application.
What You Can Do
Perhaps you are now convicted and have decided that fighting your criminal charges will be advantageous and necessary for a better future. You are now wondering what you can do. The first step is to hire an expert professional attorney that offers criminal record expungement expertise. They will have extensive knowledge and experience to help you with your wrongly accused criminal charges.
These are only three reasons why you should fight your criminal charges for a crime you did not commit. Utilize the services of an expert attorney so you can look forward to obtaining the fruitful and peaceful future you deserve.
Author information: Emma Sturgis is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2
