Work is a favorite subject to complain about, even for people who make a practice of exuding positivity. Your job puts demands on your time, and it does not pay you enough that you can afford necessities. Being employed is much better than the alternative, though. You may have heard the statistic that more than nine out of ten defendants plead guilty or no contest, because the sooner one’s sentence begins, the sooner it ends, and the sentences arising from a plea deal tend to be lighter than the ones that arise from a criminal conviction.
People look forward to reentering the workforce after serving their sentences, if they were not able to get a plea deal that avoids prison time. Conversely, the fear of economic consequences is one of the most common reasons that people exercise their right to a fair trial, even though there is a risk that, if they are convicted, they could face the maximum sentence if convicted. There is more to the effects of a criminal conviction on one’s labor force participation when meets the eye.
For help considering all factors when deciding whether to fight your charges, contact a Texas criminal defense lawyer.
The Truth About Prison Labor in Texas
Texas requires most inmates in state prisons to work 40 hours per week. Their work tasks might include preparing food in the cafeteria or cleaning various areas of the prison; some prisons even have workshops inside where prisoners manufacture consumer goods for sale. Incarcerated people also sometimes perform agricultural labor; if you have ever spent an entire day outdoors in the Texas summer, you can imagine hoe unpleasant this is. Worst of all, Texas, which has the largest inmate population in the United States, does not require prisons to pay inmates for their work. Many other states, even Florida, require prisons to pay inmates a wage. In other words, prisoners in Texas have little protection against being made to perform unpaid, forced labor.
Can You Keep Your Job If You Don’t Get a Prison Sentence?
The effects on your economic life are far less deleterious after a criminal conviction if your sentence does not include prison time. If you are serving a probation sentence pursuant to a conviction, or if the court has ordered deferred adjudication, or you are participating in a pretrial intervention program, then you can and should keep your job. The frightening question about whether you have been convicted of a felony becomes less frightening if you can truthfully say no, even if you have a pending deferred adjudication. Texas offers deferred adjudication for many defendants facing felony charges when they do not have a prior conviction. Most nonviolent offenses are eligible, as are some sexual offenses.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC About Criminal Defense Cases
A Dallas criminal defense lawyer can help you fight your charges or enter a deferred adjudication or pretrial intervention program. Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC in Dallas, Texas, to discuss your case.