A felony is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment for more than a year or by death. It’s a more severe offense than a misdemeanor, which carries a lesser penalty.
Regardless of which of these crimes you’ve been charged with, you have better odds of getting a lesser sentence when you hire lawyers to defend your criminal charges.
These four crimes fall under the felony category:
Violent Crimes
When we talk about violent crimes, we’re referring to serious offenses where someone gets hurt or threatened with harm. Take homicide, for example. This is when someone intentionally kills another person. It’s divided into different degrees.
For example, first-degree murder is when someone plans to kill another person. Then there’s second-degree murder, which is more spontaneous, like a fight that gets out of hand. The penalties are no joke, often leading to years or even life in prison.
Assault is another big one in this category. It’s about hurting someone or making them think you’re going to hurt them. It can be as simple as a fistfight or as serious as using a weapon. Aggravated assault is when things get really serious, like causing serious injuries or using a deadly weapon. This one can also land you in prison for several years.
Robbery is when you take something from someone by force or the threat of force. This isn’t just stealing from a store; it’s directly confronting a person and taking their stuff. Robbery can lead to heavy prison sentences, and the consequences can stick with you for a long time.
Property Crimes
These are crimes that involve taking or damaging someone else’s property without their permission. One of the most common property crimes is burglary, which is when someone breaks into a building, usually with the intent to steal something.
For example, if someone sneaks into a house at night to grab a TV, that’s burglary. The punishment can be pretty serious, especially if someone was home at the time or if there was a weapon involved.
Theft is similar, but it doesn’t necessarily involve breaking in. If you take something that doesn’t belong to you, that’s theft. The seriousness of the crime depends on the value of what was taken. If it’s over a certain amount, say, $1,000, it’s considered grand theft and could lead to a felony charge.
Another crime in this category is arson. This is when someone intentionally sets fire to property, whether it’s a building, a car, or something else. The penalties for arson can be really severe, especially if the fire endangers lives or causes extensive damage.
Drug Crimes
Drug crimes involve illegal substances, and they can be tricky. Possession is one of the most common charges. If you’re caught with illegal drugs on you, you could face serious consequences. The severity often depends on the type of drug and how much you have.
Also, if you’re caught selling, distributing, or growing drugs like marijuana, especially large amounts, you could end up with a hefty prison sentence.
White-Collar Crimes
None of the crimes in this category are violent, but they can still have damning consequences. They usually involve some form of deceit for financial gain. Fraud is one of the most common white-collar crimes.
This is when someone tricks another person to gain money or property. Credit card fraud, insurance scams, embezzlement and money laundering all fall under this category.
