Felonies are the most serious class of criminal offense. They are generally crimes that are punishable with an imprisonment time of at least one year. The prison sentences are usually served in the federal or the penitentiary rather than the county jail.
The people who have committed a felony are called felons. These felons are considered the low life of society, and if any felon repeats the felony, they are punished extra hard.
Definition Of Felony
The definition of a felony is quite simple. A felony is defined as a criminal offense that is more severe than other criminal cases. The severity of the cries can be evaluated by the fact that the crime is punishable by at least one year of jail time. The jail time might also increase depending on the severity of the crime.
Click here – How to Avoid Car Accidents
Some examples of a felony are as follows:
- Murder.
- Rape.
- Arson.
- Kidnapping.
Crimes that do not amount to the level of felony fall under these two categories:
- Citation.
- Misdemeanors.
To know more about felonies, contact Kim Benjamin felony attorney.
How Is Felony Different From Other Crimes?
We have already talked about the other two main categories of a felony or Misdemeanor and citation. Misdemeanors are defined as crimes that carry a maximum sentence of less than a year. These might be considered felonies but are least severe compared to felony cases.
Some examples of Misdemeanor are:
- Shoplifting.
- Simple assault.
- Trespass.
In most cases, misdemeanor cases are solved with monetary compensation or court-ordered community services.
The other case is a citation. This is the lowest level of criminal offense that hardly has any jail time. Or even though you are punished with jail time, the tenure will only last a couple of days.
Some common examples of citation are:
- Littering.
- Traffic violation.
Factors Influencing Felony Charges
Once you are convicted of a felony, a hearing will be scheduled for your sentencing. While sentencing your punishment, judges consider several factors before imposing a sentence.
Click here – What makes Breguet the Pinnacle of the most exquisite watchmaking?
The factors judges consider are:
- The Presence Of Serious harm
The judges go to the situation and see how serious the events have become. If the judges find a threat of serious harm to another person, the judge may decide to impose a serious sentence with more stipulations.
- Previous Criminal History
One of the biggest factors that determine the sentence is the previous criminal history. Typically, if the person has a previous criminal history and common another crime, the judge will sentence them a harsher punishment.
- Who The Victim Was?
The status of the victim also increases the severity of the criminal sentence. For instance, if a person commits a crime against a child or disabled person receives a more severe punishment.
- Where The Crime Took Place
The severity of the sentence can also increase depending on the location. For example, if the person commits a crime in a secure location like a school and church, they are bound to be punished harsher.
List Of Felony Charges
The particular state’s laws define the severity of the crime and decide whether the act can be considered a felony or not. However, there are some criminal charges that most tend to be classified as a felony.
- Drug offense – trafficking drugs, buying and selling.
- Sex crimes – Human trafficking & Sexual assault.
- White-collar crimes – Tax evasion, Embezzlement, Security frauds.
- Property crimes – Theft, Vandalism, and Arson.
Hire A Lawyer When Charged With Felony!
If you are charged with a felony, you must take the matter seriously. If you do not take any immediate action, you might have to serve jail time. Instead, hire a lawyer who can build your case and represent you in court.
