If you are convicted of a drug crime in Ohio, you will have to follow any orders imposed by the court, including possible jail time, fines, and probation. However, there are many additional consequences that can make your life difficult long after you have completed your sentence, making it vital that you do everything you can to put yourself in the best positon possible with a strong defense to avoid a conviction with a strong defense.
Collateral Damage from a Drug Crime Conviction in Ohio
Once you have paid the penalties for your alleged drug crime, you will be forced to live the rest of your life with a criminal record. A criminal record can present many legal barriers 
that make it difficult or impossible to live your life to the fullest. Offenders in Ohio face the possibility of hundreds of sanctions after conviction, some of which are administrative regulations while some are at the discretion of the court.
The consequences of a drug conviction can range from inconveniences and lost opportunities to irreversible damage to your reputation. While these consequences vary depending on the crime you were charged with, common restrictions include:
- Loss of constitutional rights. Sanctions on convicted criminals can be established in many ways, including constitutional provisions. In Ohio, felons lose the constitutional right to serve on a jury, or to own or possess a firearm.
- Loss of job prospects. You will be required to report your conviction on college and job applications, restricting your access to education and potential lifetime income. A drug conviction can also bar you from participation in certain regulated professions, occupations, and trades.
- Loss of public benefits. State law disqualifies convicted felons from applying for federal or state grants (including federal student loans), living in public housing, receiving Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) benefits, or receiving federal cash assistance (including SSI or food stamps).
- Loss of privacy and security. You may be subject to random drug testing, extended probation, or loss of driving privileges that make it difficult to hold down a job or live a normal life. Your conviction may also serve as grounds for divorce or impact your parental rights in a custody case.
- Effects of felony offenses. Some felony drug convictions may result in the revocation of your passport, loss of professional licensing, disqualification from joining the military, or deportation.
Are you or someone you know facing drug charges in Cincinnati, OH?
If you are facing drug charges, you need to speak with an experienced drug crimes attorney as soon as possible. The Law Offices of Steven R. Adams is recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and is one of U.S. News' Best Law Firms. Please contact us online or call our Cincinnati office directly at 513-929-9333 to schedule your free consultation.
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