Felony criminal charges are the most serious type of criminal charges but that does not mean that misdemeanor charges are not also serious. It is helpful for anyone accused of committing a crime to be familiar with the differences and the distinction between he two and how to defend themselves against whatever criminal charges they are facing.
The difference between misdemeanors and felonies
Felonies are the most serious type of criminal charges. The penalties for felony criminal charges are typically more severe than those for misdemeanors. Penalties for felony charges an include incarceration for a year or more in prison, steep fines and the permanent loss of freedoms. One of the distinctions between misdemeanor and felony charges is the length of confinement that may be assigned for the charge; misdemeanor charges are usually punished by a year or less in jail. Misdemeanor charges are more serious than infractions.
Different categories of criminal charges can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. This can include drug charges, drunk driving charges and other types of criminal charges. When facing any criminal charges, misdemeanor or felony, the accused individual is facing a potential loss of freedom and consequences that may impact them the rest of their lives.
There is not much difference defending against a misdemeanor or felony criminal charge. They should all be taken seriously. A strong criminal defense approach may help the accused individual mitigate the potential penalties and consequences of whatever charges they are facing whether they are misdemeanor or felony charges.
