Young people make mistakes. It’s a natural part of growing up and learning to make your own decisions. However, some mistakes are more serious than others. If you get into trouble with the law, the impact on your life can be significant. More specifically, if you get convicted of driving under the influence, your dreams of higher education could be in jeopardy. Impaired driving is a serious offense whether you’re in Oregon or elsewhere in the country. Whether you’re applying to college for the first time or you’re already enrolled, a DUI can impact your life negatively and it’s a good idea to contact a Portland DUI attorney. Let’s look at some of the ways in which your criminal conviction may affect your college career:
Schools May Turn Down Your Application
Getting into a good college is difficult and not having a clean background can make it even harder. A DUI conviction stays on your record. Even if it happened when you were a juvenile, it can come back to haunt you. If your college application asks whether you’ve been convicted of a crime, you have to tell the truth. If you lie and the college accepts you, they will likely expel you when they learn the truth. The painful but simple reality is that if you have a DUI on your record, colleges may not be inclined to accept you.
You May Not be Able to Get Financial Aid
If you apply for federal financial aid, the application form will ask about drug convictions. If your DUI was alcohol-related, it won’t prevent you from getting help with your school fees. However, if the police found drugs in your car during the DUI stop, that’s a different story. You would likely be charged with both a drug DUI and drug possession. The latter charge can put your financial aid in jeopardy. If you were enrolled in college or already receiving aid when you got convicted, you may not get the funding you need.
You Could Lose Scholarships and Student Housing
Similarly, if you received scholarship funding, you could lose it if you get convicted. This means you would have to seek out a loan or an alternative method of financing your education if the college allows you to stay. It all depends on the scholarship provider’s policies. In addition, if you’re living on campus, you may get kicked out. You would, therefore, have to look for somewhere else to stay. When you add up all these costs, it may be financially impossible to stay in school. Your best bet is to work with a Portland DUI lawyer to avoid conviction if possible.
You May Be Expelled
Whether you can remain in school depends on the college’s policies. Some schools require students to report any arrests. If you fail to do, you could be suspended or expelled. Suspension can cause you to lose financial aid or scholarships. Also, students who are dealing with a DUI often can’t keep up with their classes given the usual DUI penalties. If your grades slip, you could lose your scholarship. Some schools or academic programs simply won’t allow you to continue if you have a conviction on your record.
Getting a Job Will Be Hard
Even if you manage to get into college or complete your program, gaining employment may be difficult. Employers do background checks on their employees. Even if you did well in school, your DUI conviction or no-contest may overshadow it, depending on the employer’s policies. If the charge was dropped, it may still show up on certain background checks. The employer will try to determine whether the DUI could affect your ability to do the job. It is important to note that employers are prohibited from discriminating against individuals because of their criminal history. An attorney can help you to ensure your rights aren’t violated under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Contact the Trilogy Law Group Today to Discuss Your Case
If you’ve been charged with a DUI, you need to take it seriously even if you’re a juvenile. Even if you don’t think you’ll go to college, you need to fight the charge with help from a DUI lawyer in Portland. DUI charges don’t simply disappear off your record and they can affect you for a long time. If you decide to apply for college, you could find you have few options. Even if you can get into a college, it may not be the one you want.
To give yourself the best future possible, you should contact the Trilogy Law Group. Schedule a consultation today!
