Legal Question in Criminal Law in Tennessee
Can my past history be used against me if its 10 yrs old or longer
1 Answer from Attorneys
The response depends: Used against you in what way?
A conviction more than ten years old (measured from the end of any sentence imposed) cannot be used to impeach you if you testify as a witness in a criminal trial.
A felony conviction can be used forever for the purpose of increasing your punishment if convicted of another crime.
A prior conviction for a felony or a Class A Misdemeanor can be used forever to deny you pretrial diversion or posttrial diversion.
And in terms of getting a job, owning a firearm, getting a security clearance, becoming a notary public, serving on jury duty and other civil matters, a conviction is forever. Under certain circumstances civil rights can be restored, so follow the usual advice: see an attorney with respect to your specific situation.
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