Facing Felony Charges? Learn What to Expect and How to Proceed

It is an unfortunate reality but everyday in this country a felony is committed. It can often be confusing as to what type of crime is a felony. In most cases a felony is a crime that will lead to more than a one year jail sentence. In addition, state laws can vary on what is considered a felony or a misdemeanor. Here is an overview of types of crimes that are considered felonies as well as the repercussions of committing a felony.

Types of Crimes That Are Felonies
A felony is a serious crime. A felony can be either a violent or non-violent crime. Some of the crimes that are categorized as a felony are arson, burglary, aggravated assault, murder, grand theft, robbery, and illegal drug offenses. There are some offenses that might not be considered a felony depending on the circumstances such as drug offenses. A person selling or manufacturing drugs could be convicted of a felony whereas a person in possession of small amount of drugs may only be charged with a misdemeanor. When the crime involves property such as when property has been stolen the value of the property will determine whether the crime is a felony.

Repercussions of Committing a Felony
In some circumstances the felony may be classified according to the seriousness of the crime. Each state may classify the crime differently according to the legislature. The legislature has also defined the maximum punishment allowed for each felony class. Typically, a felony is punishable by imprisonment of a year or more with some felonies leading to the death penalty depending on the state and crime.

In addition to imprisonment a person convicted of a felony will lose certain privileges. After a person is convicted of a felony they will lose their right to vote in the United States. A convicted felon cannot be elected into public office. In addition, they can also be excluded from certain lines of work as well as their right to possess a firearm.




If you are facing felony charges, the advice of criminal defense attorneys is crucial. Speak to experienced assault attorneys, drug offense attorneys, sexual assault attorneys, or a lawyer who specializes in the type of charges you are facing.