What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?
When you commit a crime in our society, you have to be punished. How much punishment a criminal gets depends on how bad their crime was. To help determine how bad a crime was, the crime is called either a ‘felony’ or a ‘misdemeanor’. Felonies are more serious crimes, and misdemeanors are less serious crimes. Both can result in a jail sentence but only a felony can result in a prison sentence. The maximum sentence a person can receive on a misdemeanor is 365 days or less. Sentences on felonies can be less than or more than a year, and can be up to life in prison. If the sentence is less than a year, the sentence is generally served in a local jail. If the sentence is more than a year the time is generally served in prison.
A misdemeanor offense is charged for a relatively minor crime while more serious crimes are felonies. The difference between the two is often noted in the punishment given. Punishment for a felony carries more than a year imprisonment in a penitentiary, while those convicted of a misdemeanor often serve a year or less confinement, but not in a prison. Conviction of either a felony or misdemeanor may also carry fines or probation. Return to index . . .
A. A misdemeanor charge is less severe than a felony charge. A misdemeanor carries a potential fine of up to $2500 and a potential period of incarceration of up to 12 months in jail. A felony charge carries far greater fines and can include a potential punishment of up to life in prison. Further, a felony conviction will cause you to lose many of your rights, such as the right to vote and the right to possess a firearm. Further, if you are convicted of a felony, you carry the stigma of being a convicted felon. Therefore, if you are charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony, it is important that you obtain quality legal representation TODAY! Call Arrington Law Office, PLC at 1-877-935-2008 today.
