How a Criminal Record Impacts Employment and Housing

If you are facing criminal charges, the legal penalties and fines that accompany them can be overwhelming. Conviction, however, also comes with the serious risk that your criminal record will directly affect your ability to land a job or to rent a place to live. This can make moving ahead toward a brighter future far more challenging. Consult with our experienced criminal defense lawyers at Mette Attorneys at Law in Carlisle, PA, for the help you need.

Pennsylvania Builds in Some Protections Regarding Employment

Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) is designed to afford you protections. And this can potentially extend to clearing your record.

CHRIA requires employers in Pennsylvania to follow all the following rules in relation to reviewing an applicant’s background:

• The applicant’s misdemeanor or felony convictions can only be taken into consideration if they directly relate to their fitness for the specific job they are applying for.
• When it comes to arrest records, they cannot be used against or even considered in relation to a job applicant.
• If an applicant’s criminal record caused them to be denied employment, the employer must inform them of this fact in writing.

Housing Rights 

Pennsylvania has no law that bars private landlords from discriminating against those with a criminal record. Ultimately, landlords have considerable discretion on the matter. However, landlords who employ bans on tenants with criminal records that disproportionately affect a specific racial or ethnic group may violate fair housing laws. 

Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law

Pennsylvania’s recently expanded Clean Slate Law can help you in terms of both employment and housing—this powerful legislative measure effectively seals and, therefore, limits access to eligible criminal records. The law also strictly prohibits employers and landlords from using sealed charges in their background checks.

If your criminal record does not automatically qualify under the Clean Slate Law, it is not the end of the matter. Your resourceful criminal defense lawyer can directly petition the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas for an expungement. This may apply if the charge was a summary offense or if you completed a diversionary program. Additionally, certain misdemeanors can be sealed through an Order for Limited Access.

The Social Consequences of a Criminal Conviction Can Be Profound

The bottom line is that the social consequences of a criminal conviction can have a profound effect on your life in terms of both employment and housing. A seasoned criminal defense attorney, however, is well prepared to help.

Our Experienced Carlisle Criminal Defense Lawyers Are on Your Side

Our dedicated Carlisle criminal defense attorneys at Mette Attorneys at Law have earned an impressive reputation for helping our valued clients prevail with favorable case resolutions. And we will spare no effort to protect your employment and housing rights. To learn more about everything we can do to help you, please don’t put off reaching out by contacting us online or calling our firm at 717-232-5000.