Anyone accused of a drug crime in Washington should be aware of the potential penalties of a conviction. Most drug crimes are felonies and many will be heard in federal courts. A criminal conviction of any kind can result in more than just jail time and fines. In some cases, the long term affects can actually be worse than the sentence an offender receives. If you have been arrested for a VUCSA offense in Seattle, call a defense lawyer right away to find out more.

If you are convicted of a crime in Washington, it will be reported on your criminal record.  This record is very important because it will be visible to anyone who performs a background check on you. This is a common practice for agencies before making decisions about employment, educational admissions and more. Even banks and leasing agencies may perform such a check. This means that a VUCSA conviction can prevent you from getting a job, getting into school and finding housing.

The best way to keep your criminal record clean is to avoid conviction by fighting your charges. It is important to make sure that you have professional legal representation in order to help you get the best possible results in your case. If you have previously been convicted of a drug crime in Seattle, an attorney can also help you look into getting your record expunged. Expungement is the process in which offenders can request that their criminal convictions be removed from their record.

For more information about the specific data listed in a criminal record and how you can check your record in Washington, see the ACLU website. You can also call an experienced criminal defense lawyer to find out more about the charges you face and how you can prevent them from appearing on your record.