Misdemeanor vs. Felony
What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?
A misdemeanor is a minor crime and a felony is a more severe crime. Every state is different in their laws regarding what is classified as a misdemeanor and what is a felony. As a rule of thumb in the United States, a misdemeanor crime can result in no more than one year in jail. Any crime that results in a harsher punishment than one year in jail is considered a felony.
How will I know if I am being charged with a misdemeanor or a felony?
When being charged with a crime, you will be given a written citation by a police officer or a complaint written by a prosecutor. This will tell you what crime you are being charged with and whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or a felony.
What are some crimes that could result in a misdemeanor charge?
Some examples of misdemeanor charges include traffic offenses, littering, driving while intoxicated, check fraud, assault, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, loitering, shoplifting, trespassing, soliciting sex, and stalking. Misdemeanor crimes vary by state. Some of the crimes listed above may be classified as a misdemeanor in one state and a felony in another state.
What are some typical punishments for a misdemeanor?
Some punishments for committing a misdemeanor crime include a fine, community service, going to jail on the weekends, or being sentenced to a jail term of one year or less. There could also be a combination of a fine and a jail term.
What do the different classes of a misdemeanor mean?
A misdemeanor has different classes or severities. They are letter listed with a Class A Misdemeanor being the most severe and a Class C or D Misdemeanor being the least severe. What constitutes a class A, B, C, or D Misdemeanor varies from state to state.
What are some crimes that could result in a felony charge?
Some examples of felony crimes include aggravated assault, robbery, fraud, blackmail, rape, child abuse, terrorist threats, arson, drug trafficking, and murder. Again, every state is different on what they classify as a felony. What might be classified as a felony in one state may be classified as a misdemeanor in another state.
What are some typical punishments for a felony charge?
Some punishments for a felony include large fines, a jail term ranging from one year to life, or the death penalty.
What do the different degrees of a felony mean?
There are many different degrees of a felony. Each state is different concerning how many degrees they have. The higher the degree number, the lesser the charge. The lower the degree number, the more severe the charge. For example, a lower charge is a 6th Degree Felony and the most severe charge is a 1st Degree Felony.
