Omaha Criminal Defense Blog

People in Nebraska who are arrested and charged with crimes can often feel scared and unsure of who they can trust. It is important for them to remember that they do have rights and these rights must be respected and protected at every step of the way in a criminal investigation and arrest. These rights include the protection against unlawful search and seizure and well as the right to a fair defense process.

According to a report from The Independent, multiple agencies contributed to an effort that led to the arrest of 12 people for a variety of drug crimes. The work was part of what is known as the Central Nebraska Drug and Safe Streets Task Force. A sting was coordinated and executed on a Thursday morning. No details about what led to the sting, such as what evidence was found to substantiate it, were given.

While a Nebraska drug conviction can mean big trouble in terms of penalties, which might include jail time, steep fines and substance abuse treatment requirements, among others, such a conviction can also bring with it collateral consequences. Collateral consequences are repercussions you may face for your actions that are civil, rather than criminal, but they still have the capacity to upend certain aspects of your life. For example, one collateral consequence you may face if convicted on a drug charge is a loss of financial aid eligibility.

Per U.S. News & World Report, losing your access to federal financial aid is a very real possibility in the wake of a drug conviction, regardless of the type of drug offense a judge or jury determines you committed. Ultimately, the determining factor in whether you can expect to lose your ability to continue to receive financial aid is when, exactly, your arrest took place.

People who have been convicted of misdemeanors or felonies in Nebraska have just as much right to get a good job and provide for themselves and their families as do people who have never had any interactions with the law. In fact, the ability to get a good job can go a long way toward preventing any future legal or criminal troubles for people. Despite these facts, it can be difficult at time for people to get hired if they have criminal records but that does not have to stop them any more.

As explained by Monster, background checks are pretty much part and parcel of most job hiring processes these days. In a 2017 Background Screening Trends and Best Practices Report, Sterling Talent Solutions found that 93 percent of employers conduct such reviews prior to finalizing a new hire. That does not mean, however, that they refuse jobs to all persons with criminal records.

When facing drug-related charges in Nebraska, you may be up against numerous different potential penalties. However, even the process of facing these charges can be riddled with hardships. McGoughLaw P.C., L.L.O., is here to help you navigate through this period.

The first thing you should know is that all federal drug crime convictions carry heavy penalties. Not only that, but the judges are not allowed to consider individual circumstances during these court cases. This can work against you very easily, making it harder or even impossible to explain the situation leading up to or surrounding your charges.