Understanding the Difference between a Felony and a Misdemeanor

Laws in this country are set at the federal and state levels and are generally categorized as either felonies or misdemeanors. There are also infractions of the law that are not usually considered crimes, such as speeding, and ordinances against certain behavior set at the local level, such as curfews.

Whether a crime is considered a felony or a misdemeanor depends on the punishment possible for that crime in the state in which it occurred, or at the federal level in the case of crimes such as mail fraud, kidnapping, and counterfeiting.

In most states, misdemeanors are crimes for which the maximum sentence possible is less than a year of jail time. Those crimes for which the minimum sentence possible is imprisonment of a year or more are considered felonies. In states that have the death penalty, all crimes potentially punishable by death are considered felonies.

Most states also allow for some crimes to be processed as either felonies or misdemeanors, depending on the circumstances and any aggravating factors (such as cruelty shown in the commission of a crime). It would be ideal to reach out to a South Carolina trial attorney if you are from the state and need help.

Some key differences
Both misdemeanors and felonies are processed through the court system and allow you due process. That said, there are some key differences:

• If you are charged with a federal felony, your case may first go before a grand jury to determine if the case against you is strong enough to go to trial

• If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, the judge generally delivers the sentence at the conclusion of your trial

• If you are convicted of a felony, you will be sentenced at a separate hearing

• In the case of an appeal, a misdemeanor case will be held before a different appellate court than a felony

Differences in punishment are significant, and include:

• People convicted of misdemeanor crimes generally serve sentences of less than one year and serve them in city, county, or state jails

• People convicted of felonies generally serve sentences of more than one year and are incarcerated in state prisons

In some states, convicted felons can lose certain rights, including:

• The right to possess firearms

• The right to hold a hunting or even fishing license

• The right to vote

Some rights to your privacy, including:

• Requiring that the convicted disclose their status as felons on job applications

• Requiring some felons, such as sex offenders, to register with the state when they leave prison and restricting where they can live (such as not near elementary schools)

• Convicted felons may be subject to harsher punishment on subsequent convictions

In many cases, the legal and judicial systems have broad discretion in the charges they bring against the accused and in sentencing the convicted. If you are ever arrested, it is essential that you obtain a South Carolina criminal attorney as quickly as possible in order to ensure the best outcome possible for your case.