To all new college graduates in New Hampshire, congratulations! But now that you are out of school, it is only a matter of time before you realize that the working world is a far less forgiving place than a university. One example is how many jobs require their workers to carry professional licenses or security clearances. Getting these certifications, however, can be impossible if you have a criminal record.
This is just another example of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction.
COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION
When people think of the penalties they can face after being convicted of a crime, they think of fines, possible jail time, probation, and mandatory community service.
However, there are numerous other potential penalties that you can face for having a criminal background. One of them is an ineligibility for certain professional licenses or security clearances. In some cases, this obstacle makes sense. In many others, though, the distance between the certification and the crime are so extreme that it is confusing how they can be connected at all. This is the case, despite New Hampshire law requiring there to be a “substantial and direct relationship” between the conviction and the license.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND SECURITY CLEARANCES WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
Unfortunately, this means that your criminal history can wreak havoc on your post-graduation job search if the position you are looking for requires a professional license or a security clearance. If your past conviction—no matter how far it was in the past—even tangentially relates to the job description, you could find yourself completely barred from getting licensed for the role. This is especially true if your past conviction was a felony.
Worse, the chances that your criminal past will impact your ability to obtain a professional license or security clearance are not small. The National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction (NICCC) attempts to list all of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction. Its page for New Hampshire has 1,131 entries. The vast majority of these are restrictions for certain professional licenses, like:
- Felony convictions make one ineligible for a CPA certification
- Crimes of fraud or violence make one ineligible to certify, renew, or recertify as a midwife
- Class A felony convictions make one ineligible for a dietician license
- Felony convictions make one ineligible for a New Hampshire education personnel credential
- Crimes of direct physical injury, or harm of any nature to a child, make one ineligible to obtain a license to run a youth skill camp
TENN AND TENN, P.A.: NEW HAMPSHIRE CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
A criminal conviction can drastically impact your life, even years after you have served your time. Worse, the implications of having a criminal background can make it incredibly difficult to get back on your feet and move on with your life.
The criminal defense attorneys at the Manchester law office of Tenn And Tenn, P.A. help clients who have been charged with a crime, but also who are dealing with the collateral consequences of a past conviction. Our lawyers can help you overcome a past mistake. Contact us online or call us at (603) 614-5055.