People who are convicted of felonies can face the consequences of those convictions for much longer than they are actually behind bars. Even after being released, they may not get certain rights back — though they can apply to have some of them reinstated — and this can change the way that they have to live.
For instance, felons may not be given the right to vote, the right to become lawyers or the right to be called up for jury duty. If they want to work in the field of law after serving their time, this can clearly derail their plans. They may also lose some other rights, such as the right to own a firearm.
It is important to know about this if you have been charged with a felony in Maryland because you must know how to approach the charges. Understanding what is at stake shows you how important it is to get a fair sentence — or to clear your name if no conviction is warranted.
There are many different types of felonies. Some are created when crimes that would have fallen under local laws end up crossing state lines, turning them into federal crimes. Other felonies include certain weapons charges, homicide charges and drug charges that revolve around substances like cocaine or marijuana.
If you want to learn more about what it means to face these charges, the impact it can have on your future and what legal options you have, we think that you may find our page on felony charges to be very helpful and informative.