Unfortunately, young adults commit a disproportionate percentage of crimes in the United States. According to the US Department of Justice, young adults between 18 and 24 accounted for 19% of all arrests in 2020.
Most people make their worst mistakes when they are younger. If you have a college student, it is essential to understand the long-term consequences of a criminal record.
Consequences for college students
Students with an arrest record are far less likely to graduate college. Additionally, employment opportunities become severely limited by criminal records. The Society for Human Resource Management claims that the average income for people with felony convictions is $7,000 less than those without a history. Many of the crimes that college students commit fall under the category of third-, second- and first-degree felonies. Pennsylvania considers possession with intent to sell and sex crimes to be felonies.
Fighting the charges and expungement
Your first line of defense should be to fight the charges. If you have a child who faces a misdemeanor or felony charge, you need an experienced attorney who knows the Pennsylvania justice system. Expungement may be an option if your student already has a criminal conviction. Even if the court drops the charges, a record still exists. You may be able to remove non-conviction data, helping your child with future education and employment opportunities.
Young adults do not always live up to their expectations. However, a mistake made in college should not prevent their ability to succeed for the rest of their lives. Look at your options, and fight the charges with full force.