What can felons not do in NC?

Asked by: Burley Hansen Sr.  |  Last update: January 7, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (26 votes)

In North Carolina, individuals with a felony conviction lose their right to vote, serve on a jury, and hold public office. These rights can only be restored through specific legal processes, such as completing parole or probation and paying all fines and restitution.

What does having a felony prevent you from doing in NC?

In addition to losing your right to vote and possess firearms, a felony conviction also strips away your right to serve on a jury or hold public office in North Carolina. This can have a significant impact on your ability to engage in civic life and have a voice in your community. Under N.C.G.S.

Can a felon live in a house with a gun in North Carolina?

The Felony Firearms Act. § 14-415.1. Possession of firearms, etc., by felon prohibited. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to purchase, own, possess, or have in his custody, care, or control any firearm or any weapon of mass death and destruction as defined in G.S. 14-288.8(c).

How long will a felony stay on your record in NC?

Misdemeanor convictions can now be expunged after 5 years instead of 15. Felony convictions can now be expunged after 10 years instead of 15. There is no more limit on how many dismissals can be expunged.

What are you not allowed to do as a felon?

The rights most often curtailed include the right to vote and hold public office, employment rights, domestic rights, and financial and contractual rights. State statutes and local ordinances are the traditional means for abridging the rights of convicted criminals.

Can I get my guns back after being charged with a felony in North Carolina?

25 related questions found

What rights are felons denied?

  • What is the New Law for Felons in California?
  • Loss of Voting Rights During Incarceration or On Parole.
  • Lifetime Ban on Owning, Possessing, or Purchasing Firearms in California.
  • Lifetime Ban on Serving on Juries After a Felony Conviction.
  • Can Convicted Felons Hold Public Office in California?

Do felonies go away after 7 years?

Dismissed felony charges can usually be sealed or expunged right away. In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison.

What felonies cannot be expunged in NC?

Violent misdemeanors such as child abuse and assault with a deadly weapon are not eligible. Class A felonies, including murder, and felonies requiring sex offender registration, such as sexual battery, incest, and human trafficking, are never eligible for expunction.

Will a felony show up on a background check after 10 years?

Under Cal. Civ. Code 1786.18(a)(7), California mandates that a conviction can't be reported when it's older than seven years. Arrests that didn't lead to convictions can't be reported regardless of how much time has elapsed.

What is the Second Chance Act in NC?

The bill: If passed, the Second Chance Act would automatically expunge (remove) from a person's criminal record charges that were dismissed, or for which a person was found not guilty. It would also allow for expungement of some juvenile convictions and certain nonviolent misdemeanor and nonviolent felony convictions.

What kind of gun can a felon own in NC?

In 2004, the NC Legislature banned all gun ownership by convicted felons. The North Carolina Felony Firearms Act makes it illegal for a convicted felon to purchase, own, or possess any firearm. This includes gun parts and silencers, but it does not extend to antique firearms, which are any firearm created before 1898.

What happens if you marry a felon?

The convicted felon can use his or her own conviction and imprisonment to obtain a divorce. Another implication of marriage to a felon is the extent to which the fact of the conviction can become an issue in child custody proceedings.

What do you call a person with a felony?

Technically, a felon is anyone who's been convicted of a serious crime, but you can use felon to describe anyone you think has done something terrible. For a felon, it's being paraded in handcuffs in front of the public that can be the worst part of being convicted.

Can convicted felons get food stamps in NC?

Yet, North Carolina is one of the few states that temporarily or permanently deny access to food stamps because of a felony drug conviction.

What privileges do you lose as a felon?

The good news is that California does not restrict the constitutional rights of felons nearly as much as other states. Unfortunately, the state still does have many restrictions on what felons are not able to do after a conviction —for example, they can no longer possess a firearm or serve on a jury.

Can felons go to the gun range in NC?

Can a felon shoot at the range? –NO. It is unlawful for a felon to poses or operate a firearm without reinstatement of rights, or expungement of offence.

What is the 7 year rule?

The 7 year rule

No tax is due on any gifts you give if you live for 7 years after giving them - unless the gift is part of a trust. This is known as the 7 year rule.

What is the 7 year look back rule?

The FCRA's seven-year rule restricts the reporting of certain types of information for jobs paying less than a minimum salary threshold. Additionally, several states have seven-year restrictions on reporting criminal convictions.

How far back does a background check go in NC?

North Carolina does not impose a limit on the “lookback period” for an applicant's criminal history. As such, you can view the accessible criminal history information on an applicant in NC for as far back as your screening needs require.

How much does it cost to expunge a felony in NC?

There is generally a $175 filing fee to petition for expunction. A few expunction statutes do not require a fee, like expunction of charges that were dismissed or ended in a “not guilty” verdict, unless the dismissal was based on the completion of a diversion program or deferred prosecution agreement.

Is a felony ever removed from your record?

California Law

For example, in California, felony convictions can only be expunged if: no time was served in state prison, felony probation was successfully completed, and. you are not currently facing criminal charges, on probation, or serving another sentence.

How do I get rid of a felony in NC?

The expungement process is initiated by filing the petition form in the county where the arrest occurred. A petitioner may contact the clerk of court or contact a private attorney regarding the procedures for filing the petition form.

Does a felony stay with you for life?

A felony will stay on your record forever in California unless you choose to take action and get the conviction removed. This is called the “expungement process” and generally requires the help of a legal representative to get underway.

Can you get a passport with a felony?

Most convicted felons in the US can obtain a passport after completing their sentence. That said, certain felony convictions can still disqualify you from getting a passport. Other reasons for being denied a US passport include failing to pay child support or having significant outstanding federal tax debts.

How far back do most background checks go?

Employment background checks can typically go back as far as seven to ten years, though that timeframe can vary depending on the type of check, the position being applied for, industry regulations and state or local laws.