A common question I hear asked stemming from a misdemeanor charges is, “how seriously should I take this citation?”. Short answer: very seriously. Let’s think about potential areas of your life affected by a criminal conviction: Employment (prospective and continued); Housing; Education; and Travel to name a few. We live in a day and age when more and more employers are screening prospective employees and current employees with background checks. A criminal conviction could be the difference between getting the job you want or the promotion you desire. Background checks are not limited to employers. They are also a routine practice of landlords looking to rent to tenants. Criminal convictions can disrupt and altogether halt travel to a foreign country like Canada which living in Washington can be burdensome and problematic for those who have business in Canada and/or family. Criminal history can be a part of your college application experience. If you are already in college and on financial aid, a drug conviction may impact your ability to to continue receiving funding for your education. “How seriously should I take this citation?” Very seriously.
Matthew R. Hoff, Attorney at Law is a criminal defense law firm located in the Shumay neighborhood of Vancouver, Washington. 2901 Main St. Minutes from the Clark County Courthouse. Also servicing Camas/Washougal Municipal Court; Battleground Municipal Court and Cowlitz County. I am located just off Fourth Plain Boulevard with easy access from I5 North & South. I have over 10 years of experience representing clients on a wide variety of criminal matters ranging from DUI, Domestic Violence (DV) misdemeanor assault charges to drug possession cases and Class A felonies.
