Conviction of any criminal charge can have a lifelong, negative impact on your life. Not only will you spend time behind bars, but conviction of a theft offense will leave you with a permanent record.
Theft is a crime of moral turpitude. Many companies and lenders run background checks, and most will not consider a candidate if they have a theft conviction, regardless of the class. Speaking with a defense attorney is your best option to prevent these consequences.
Criminal Defense Attorney in Colorado Springs
Theft is a serious charge with the potential to cause lasting damage. The best defense you can take is retaining legal counsel. Law Offices of Clifton Black, PC believes a criminal conviction should not hinder your life. Our attorneys will fight tooth and nail to have the charges dropped or reduced.
Take the first step in your defense and contact Law Offices of Clifton Black, PC. You can call (719) 328-1616 to schedule a free case consultation. We are based in Colorado Springs, but assist clients in other areas including Denver County and Arapahoe County.
Information Center
- How Will My Job be Impacted?
- Can I Receive a Loan After a Theft Conviction?
- How Will Housing be Impacted by a Theft Conviction?
- Additional Resources
How Will My Job be Impacted?
Finding a job is already difficult, but it becomes much harder with a theft conviction on your record. As previously mentioned, many employers will run background checks on prospective employers. In fact, Global HR Research found 96% of employers conduct at least one type of background check. Unfortunately, many employers will label you a thief and go with another candidate. Not all hope is lost though. Private employers can hire employees with a criminal record if they choose.
Those working in professions that require a license to practice will also feel the impact of a theft conviction. You will likely have to go in front of your licensing agency and explain yourself. The disciplinary action an agency takes will depend on the agency. They may decide to suspend or revoke your license. You may also face complications if you plan to apply for a professional license in the future. Depending on the profession, you may be barred from taking a licensing exam with a theft conviction on your record.
Can I Receive a Loan After a Theft Conviction?
Loans help millions of people a year. This financial assistance allows borrowers to finance vehicles, businesses and homes. Like employers, lenders will conduct a criminal background check. Whether or not they decide to grant you a loan will depend on if you were convicted of felony or misdemeanor theft.
Misdemeanor theft generally won’t affect your ability to get a loan, especially if you are looking for a medium or long-term loan. Keep in mind; whether or not you are granted a loan after a misdemeanor theft conviction varies depending on the lender. Financial institutions grant loans based on their risk assessment of the borrower. Lenders may view a felony theft conviction as an indicator of lack of reliability and choose to deny your loan.
How Will Housing be Impacted by a Theft Conviction?
Colorado’s landlord/tenant laws favor landlords. When considering an application for housing, the law allows for a landlord to consider the applicant’s criminal history. A theft conviction, whether felony or misdemeanor, may convince the landlord you would adversely affect the safety and welfare of other tenants. As a result, the landlord or housing unit may choose to deny you housing.
A landlord also has the authority to terminate your lease and evict you following a theft conviction. It’s up to the landlord whether or not they evict you. A misdemeanor theft conviction will probably not result in eviction. Felony theft, on the other hand, is a different story. Felony theft involves stealing property worth $2,000 or more. Conviction of such a crime could cause the landlord to believe you may do the same to others on the property.
Being convicted of theft after stealing from other tenants will likely result in eviction, even if the offense was petty.
Theft | Colorado Revised Statutes – It’s wise to be aware of state laws, especially if you have been convicted or charged with a crime. Follow the link to read the state statute for theft. You can find out the differences between misdemeanor and felony theft and find a list of acts considered theft.
Consequences of Conviction | Colorado Public Defender – The Colorado Public Offender provides a PDF on the collateral consequences of criminal convictions. You can find out how a theft conviction may impact family law matters, access to public benefits and firearm rights. You can also find a list of professions that may be affected by a theft conviction.
Criminal Defense Lawyer in Colorado Springs
This is not a comprehensive list of consequences of not successfully defending a theft conviction. Rather, it’s provided to explain the detrimental impact a theft conviction could have on your life. It’s vital you have an attorney experienced in criminal law if you have been charged with theft. They can question witnesses and present evidence that supports your side of the story.
The attorneys at Law Offices of Clifton Black, PC are experts in their field. We will develop a defense plan in your best interest and fight to achieve the best possible outcome. Call (719) 328-1616 to schedule a case evaluation. Some of the areas we serve include Colorado Springs, Denver, and Littleton.