Can a criminal conviction cost you your job?
OKF • June 18, 2025
The impact of a criminal conviction on your job
CRIMINAL RECORDS & EMPLOYMENT: THE HIDDEN COST OF CONVICTION
THE EMPLOYMENT REALITY
- 92% of employers conduct background checks
- Criminal records create 5x higher unemployment rates
- Average lifetime earnings loss: $400,000-$500,000
- 60% remain unemployed one year after conviction
INDUSTRIES WITH AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION
- Healthcare: Patient care positions eliminated
- Financial Services: Federal regulations prohibit hiring
- Education: Background checks required, restrictions for any charges involving minors
- Transportation: DUI convictions end CDL careers immediately
- Government: Security clearance requirements eliminate opportunities
- Licensed Professions: Legal, medical, real estate face strict character requirements
TIMELINE OF IMPACT Immediate (During Charges): Current job loss, license suspension, security clearance
revocation 1-2 Years: 70% of opportunities eliminated, licensing board reviews, advancement blocked 5+ Years:Persistent employment gaps, reduced earning potential, limited career growth
WEST VIRGINIA EXPUNGEMENT LIMITATIONS
- Only available once in lifetime
- Misdemeanors: 1-2 year waiting period
- Non-violent felonies: 5 year wait (3 with treatment)
- Violent felonies: No expungement available
- Law enforcement jobs: Must disclose even expunged convictions
- Federal checks: May still reveal expunged records
THE INVESTMENT EQUATION Cost of Conviction: $400,000-$500,000 lifetime earnings loss Investment in Defense: $750-$7,500+ for aggressive representation Potential Outcome: Charges dismissed, reduced, or minimized
Your career is worth defending. Don't let one mistake define your future.
Call us today to see if we can help you.
Resources for West Virginia Families
The Bad News: When you were twenty-five, you got a simple possession of marijuana charge. You pled guilty, paid a fine and moved on with life, but that charge keeps following you every where you go. The Good News: You might be able to get the charge removed from your record. In West Virginia, your criminal conviction doesn't necessarily have to stay with you forever. Expungement may be an option. While e xpungement isn't available for violent offenses, like assault, and battery, offenses against children, sexual offenses, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OFFENSES THAT YOU CAN GET REMOVED FROM YOUR RECORD FOREVER, including: simple possession, shoplifting, petit larceny, trespassing, and others. Contact KF Law Firm to see if your charges are eligible for expungement.