Legal Definitions - collateral consequence

A collateral consequence is an additional penalty that a person may face for committing a crime, on top of the penalties included in their criminal sentence. This means that even after serving their sentence, a person may still face negative consequences that can impact their life.

For example, if someone is convicted of a drug offense, they may lose their driver's license or professional license, making it difficult for them to find employment or continue their career. Another example is the loss of voting rights, which can impact a person's ability to participate in democracy.

These examples illustrate how collateral consequences can have a lasting impact on a person's life, even after they have served their sentence. It is important to consider these consequences when making decisions about criminal justice policies and practices.