A Basic Guide To The Levels Of Criminal Offenses
Posted on: 21 October 2015
If you are charged with a crime, you need to understand the different levels of offense that you can be charged with. This will help you determine what you should plea when you appear in court and what the consequences will be of pleading guilty or accepting a plea deal.
The Worst Kind: Felonies
The most serious type of crime that you can be charged with is a felony. Felonies can be brought against you at both the state and federal level.
If you are convicted of a felony, you sentence will include time in either a state or federal prison. If your job requires a license, you could lose your license, and you can also be denied housing due to your felony conviction.
If you are facing a felony conviction, you should discuss entering a plea of not guilty with your lawyer. That way, they can fight to get the charges against you reduced or dismissed.
Still Serious But Not As Bad: Misdemeanors
A misdemeanor is not as bad as a felony, but it is still pretty serious. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, there is a high probability that you will spend time in the county jail for the crime that you committed. Most county jail stints are not that long; however, you would still lose your freedoms for the time beings.
As with felonies, you may have some difficulties finding housing and a job when you have a misdemeanor on your record. Because of the county jail sentence associated with misdemeanors, employers and rental agencies look down on individuals who have been convicted at this level. However, having a felony pleaded down to a misdemeanor is a good thing.
If you have only been charged with a misdemeanor though, you should fight to see if it can be dropped down to a lesser charge and talk to your attorney to see if that can happen.
Penalties Vary: Infraction
An infraction rarely results in jail time. When you face an infraction and are found guilty of it, you generally have to pay a charge or face some kind of penalty or loss of privileges related to the charges.
Not all infractions are actually considered criminal matters either. In many states, infractions like driving tickets are considered civil matters, so you will not have to put on any job or housing applications that you have any criminal charges. You can often represent yourself with an infraction; however, the assistance of an attorney can be helpful.
A Slap On The Wrist: Ordinances
A violation of an ordinance is not a huge deal, legally speaking. Each city and county has their own ordinances, or special laws that they enforce. If you are charged with breaking one of these, you will most likely have to pay a fine. You probably do not even need to hire an attorney.
This guide should help you figure out how serious the charges that you face are and give you a basic idea of the consequences of those charges. If you are unsure of what you are up against, you should talk with a criminal attorney, like those at the Law Offices of Daniel Aaronson.
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