10 Things You Could Lose With A Felony In Texas

When it comes to the laws of states, things vary. Some states are a bit more lenient than others, but Texas is not one of those states.

Any type of felony in Texas will land you in jail for at least a short amount of time, but it's not necessarily what happens when you're convicted, it's what happens BECAUSE you were convicted.

There are many things that you lose rights to when you are convicted of a felony in Texas, and some of them are things you may not think about. Wondering what is considered a felony in Texas? A list of them can be found right here.

Let's take a look at the 10 things that a felony conviction in Texas can impact.

VOTING

This is one where it's a bit different than other states. While you're incarcerated, you do not have the right to vote. If you're in for a misdemeanor, you can still vote while locked up.

Now, in many states, a felony conviction will take away your right to vote entirely. However, in Texas, you can have your voting rights restored once your conviction has been fully discharged. In other words, being released from prison and completing any probation or parole.

EMPLOYMENT

Now, a felony conviction won't prevent you from working, but it could stop you from getting the type of job you really want. There are places that hire convicted felons, but it's not as many as you think.

Sometimes it's based on the type of conviction, others simply won't hire you. There are plenty of jobs out there if you have a felony conviction on your record, but know that even though you may be the most qualified for a position, you may get passed over for someone with a clean record.

FEDERAL OFFICE

Here's a hot topic for you. Right now, we're in the midst of a presidential election where one of the candidates has over 30 felony convictions currently on their record, but they're still able to run for office.

Here's where the loophole is, and it applies in Texas as well. A felony conviction will immediately disqualify you from holding a public office position. However, you CAN still hold an elected federal office position. An elected state office position could be possible in Texas, however you would've had to receive a full pardon.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Here's one I didn't know about. Say you want to go back to school and better yourself after a felony conviction. Good for you, however, you better have the funds saved up to do it.

If you've been convicted of a felony, you will have limited access to for any federal school loans, making it a bit more difficult for you to pursue that secondary education. Furthermore, there are many universities that will deny you if your conviction is related to drugs or sex crimes.

FIREARMS

This one is pretty cut and dry. If you're a convicted felon, you cannot legally own a firearm. Simple as that. Convicted felons will not have a gun license issued to them.

If you are caught owning a firearm as a convicted felon, you just added another felony to your record, so if you want to be able to legally purchase a gun, stay out of trouble.

ABILITY TO DRIVE

This one comes down to which type of felony you were convicted of. There are many different variations as to how a felony conviction can impact your ability to drive, and they aren't all equal.

You could potentially lose your license temporarily depending on the conviction, or full-on revocation of your license depending on the conviction. You could also be required to install an ignition interlock system at your own expense in order to keep your license.

A PLACE TO LIVE

Here's one that can significantly impact your life. If you have a felony conviction on your record, you'll find that landlords in Texas can flat-out refuse your application. That's not to say you can't find a place to live. It just may not be what you were wanting or looking for. Not to mention you may struggle to find affordable housing, and that could send you into a downward spiral.

BEING A PARENT

If you have a child naturally with someone, then having a felony conviction on your record won't hurt you. The state can't say you aren't able to be a mother or father to your biological child. There is one way though that it could affect you and your biological child.

If you're in the middle of a child custody dispute, it could impact your visitation rights and limit your custody of the child.

If you are looking to adopt a child, that's a totally different story. If your felony conviction is for domestic violence and/or alcohol-related crimes, you will be prohibited from being able to adopt.

IMMIGRATION

If you are not a natural citizen of the United States, and you are convicted of a felony, you could find yourself deported back to your home country if you're convicted of a felony offense. You could also be denied a green card. This isn't limited to felony offenses as misdemeanor offenses could also find you in this spot.

The flip side of the immigration part is that it isn't limited to just convictions. If you are even accused of certain crimes, it could cause serious immigration issues for you.

SERVING ON A JURY

I know, you get that little card in the mail and most of us groan and moan about it, hoping we aren't selected. However, just like voting, getting to serve on a jury is a right, and it can be revoked.

If you're convicted of a felony and serve more than one year in jail or prison, your right to serve on a jury goes away. The only way you can reobtain that right is by receiving a full pardon on your conviction.