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Speak Up! - View Question #459 |
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Question: My friend wants to turn his life around. He was convicted of a felony, selling drugs. Can he get a good career, he is only 18? Can he go to college? What are his options?
Answer: I am assuming that your friend received
this conviction after he was 18. (In juvenile court, findings of guilt
are "adjudications of delinquency, not convictions.") It would
also help to know if he received a plea agreement to a lesser offense,
such as simple possession.
First off, certainly he can go to college. Certain offenses
can make it hard to get student loans, but he could always work his way
through college. Arizona Law (ARS
13-904(E)) states:
A person shall not be disqualified from employment
by this state or any of its agencies or political subdivisions, nor
shall a person whose civil rights have been restored be disqualified
to engage in any occupation for which a license, permit or certificate
is required to be issued by this state solely because of a prioir conviction
for a felony or misdemeanor within or without this state. A person may
be denied employment by this state or any of its agencies or political
subdivisions or a person who has had his civil rights restored may be
denied a license, permit or certificate to engage in an occupation by
reason of the prior conviction of a felony or misdemeanor if the offense
has a reasonable relationship to the functions of the employment or
occupation for which the license, permit or certificate is sought.
Arizona Law (ARS 13-912)
automatically restores a person civil rights on a first time felony if
prison time or probation is completed and all fines and fees are paid.
ARS 13-906
is the statute (Arizona Law) under which he could apply to restore his
rights to bear arms.
If your friend avoids further convictions, for the most
part, he has lots of options. Avenues which are probably closed are law
enforcement and the military (and pharmacology).
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