[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/prior-criminal-record-hurts-long-run\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/prior-criminal-record-hurts-long-run\/","headline":"How A Prior Criminal Record Hurts You In The Long Run","name":"How A Prior Criminal Record Hurts You In The Long Run","description":"In today\u2019s competitive market, getting into a college or professional school or finding a high-paying job in the greater Philadelphia area is harder now than ever. Since the Great Recession, this is true even for people with impeccable credentials. A\u00a0criminal record\u00a0(particularly a lengthy one) can significantly...","datePublished":"2017-04-04","dateModified":"2025-09-17","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/#Person","name":"Brian Zeiger, LLC","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Zeiger Firm","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","width":257,"height":59}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Criminal-record.jpg","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Criminal-record.jpg","height":720,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/prior-criminal-record-hurts-long-run\/","about":["Criminal Defense"],"wordCount":543,"articleBody":"In today\u2019s competitive market, getting into a college or professional school or finding a high-paying job in the greater Philadelphia area is harder now than ever. Since the Great Recession, this is true even for people with impeccable credentials. A\u00a0criminal record\u00a0(particularly a lengthy one) can significantly hinder a person\u2019s educational and professional options.If you have been charged with a crime in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, you need experienced legal representation by a Philadelphia criminal defense attorney\u00a0early on in your case. An experienced Philadelphia criminal defense attorney may be able to help you formulate legal defenses, potentially resulting in dropped charges or a favorable plea deal. After a period of time, an experienced Philadelphia criminal defense attorney may also be able to assist you with petitioning the Court for a criminal records expungement.Educational OpportunitiesUndergraduate and professional schools, such as law schools, business schools, and medical schools, have stringent admissions requirements. Not only must applicants have strong academic credentials and high test scores in order to be admitted, they must also typically undergo a criminal background check and\/or a character and fitness review \u2013 all as part of the application process. When criminal record checks reveal a lengthy criminal history, applicants may be denied admission to the educational institution of their choice. In fact, some schools automatically deny admission if the applicant has any criminal record, whatsoever, no matter the charge or conviction.With the popularity and easy accessibility of the internet, handheld mobile devices, and other forms of electronic communication, criminal background checks are extremely easy to perform, and criminal records are readily available to the general public online.Employment OpportunitiesNowadays, many employers will not even consider an applicant who has a criminal record on the books. Also, upon arrest, many individuals who are employed risk losing their jobs and\/or their professional licenses, depending upon the nature and circumstances of the criminal charges.Records ExpungementAfter a period of time passes, an individual may petition a Pennsylvania court to have his or her criminal record expunged.\u00a0Expungement decisions are based upon a variety of factors, the most important of which is the effect the expungement will have on the community at large. A Court\u2019s decision about whether or not to grant a criminal records expungement usually depends upon the following factors:The amount of time that has passed since the arrest, charge, or convictionThe nature of the crime that the person was charged with and\/or convicted ofAny danger to the community at large by granting the expungement of the recordsContact an Experienced Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorney Today to Discuss Your CaseAny criminal record \u2013 no matter the charge \u2013 can have very serious, negative consequences on just about every aspect of a person\u2019s life. An experienced Philadelphia, Pennsylvania\u00a0criminal defense lawyer\u00a0may be able to assist you with eliminating or reducing your charges or with petitioning the court for a criminal records expungement.Philadelphia criminal defense attorney\u00a0Brian J. Zeiger\u00a0of The Zeiger Firm has the legal knowledge and expertise to represent you throughout your pending criminal case.\u00a0You should feel free to contact him today at 215-546-0340, for a free consultation, or\u00a0contact us online. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How A Prior Criminal Record Hurts You In The Long Run","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/prior-criminal-record-hurts-long-run\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]