Felony Definition: Key Facts and Legal Insights by GetLegal

1. DefinitionofFelony –GetLegal AltText:Felonydefiniton Determiningwhatconstitutesa"felony"inthelegalsenseislikedivingintothedepthsoflegal consequenceandgravity.Thefelonydefinitionis:itismore thanmerelyalegalcategorization. The label of felonies covers a broad range of crimes, from financial fraud to violent crimes, and hassignificantramificationsforbothoffenders and societyatlarge.Understandingthemeaning of thisphraserequiresnavigatingthecomplexitiesoflegalterminology,socialnorms,andthe seriousconsequencesofillegalactivity. WhatIsaFelony? Afelonyisa seriouscrimewith amaximum punishmentofone yearormorein jail. Furthermore,ratherofbeing kept ina municipal orcountyjail,aprisonerservingasentencefor a felonyistypicallydetainedinastate orfederalprison.

2. How DoesaFelonyDifferfromOtherTypesof Crimes? • Therearemanywaysthatfelonychargesdifferfrom thoseofothercriminalprosecutions: • Ifyouare convictedofafelony,youcanbe takenintoimmediate custodyandplaced underarrest.Inordertobereleased,youwouldmost likelyalsoneedtopost bail. Misdemeanorchargescanresultin more thanjustinfractions—theycanpotentiallylead toarrest andincarceration. • Instateswhereitispermitted,a convictedfelonmayreceivethe deathpenalty. Misdemeanorconvictionsprecludethe applicationofthedeathpenalty. • Ifyouarechargedwitha felonybutcannotaffordlegalrepresentation,youcanpetition the court to assign an attorney to represent you pro bono, or at no cost to you. Defendantsin smallmatterstypicallydonothavetheright tocourt-appointedlegal representation. • Whenafelonyiscommitted,thefinesimposedmight befargreaterthanwhena misdemeanororinfraction iscommitted.Whilesomemisdemeanorconvictions insome places,includingAlaska,mayresultinfines ofup to$25,000,feloniescancarryfinesofup tohundredsofthousandsofdollars. • Expungementsoffeloniesaremuchmoredifficult,if notimpossible,toobtain,andusually require alongerwaitingperiodbefore thecourt willgrant therequest. • While a convictionona misdemeanormayresultin probationoncethetermiscompleted, aconvictiononafelonyhasextralifetimerestrictionsinadditiontoprobation: • Aconvictedfelonmaylosethe right to vote. • Aconvictedfelonmaynotbe abletoholdpublicoffice. • Aconvictedfelonmay be preventedfrom owningfirearmsorcertainotherweapons. • Aconvictedfelonmay beprohibitedfrom holdingaprofessionallicense.

3. Agrandjury must be calledanditmustreturnanindictmentinevery federalfelony proceeding.A grand juryindictmentisanotherneed thatsome states, butnotall,havein order tomove onwithafelonytrial. • WhatCrimesAreTypicallyChargedasFelonies? • Awide arrayofcriminalwrongs are almost always chargedas felonies: • Violentcrimes • Homicide offenses, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter • Robbery—committing atheft throughthe threatoruse offorce • Burglary—entering a building or home with the intention of committing a theft offense • Serious sexual offenses,suchas rape,humantrafficking,childmolestation,andchild pornography • Seriousdrugcrimes,includingmanufacturingorcultivatingcontrolledsubstances, distribution,sale,andtrafficking • Property crimes,includingmaliciousdestruction,arson,misappropriationofproperty,and grandtheft • Whitecollarcrimes,suchasfraud,misrepresentation,identitytheft,embezzlement, securitiesfraud,andtax evasion • Can the Same Criminal Act Be Prosecuted as a Misdemeanor or a Felony? • Yes,there aresituations where amisdemeanorcanrise tothe levelofafelonyandbe charged as such: • Lawsusuallyprovide prosecutorsthechoice tochargearepeatoffenderwitha misdemeanororafelony.RepeatDUI/DWIoffendersusuallyundergothisprocess.

4. A crime that would often be charged as a felony if the victim fits one of the specified characteristics,suchas being achild,having mentalhealthconcerns,orworking as alaw enforcementofficerorotherpublicfigure. • Certain offenses may be categorized as felonies or misdemeanors, depending on whether the defendant's actions were regarded to be exacerbated or done with wanton disregard for the dignity of human life. For example, ordinary assault may become felonious assault ifthe defendantusedapistolorotherweapon.