When a person faces criminal charges for any type of offense, one of the first questions they immediately ask is if they will be facing misdemeanor or
felony charges. there is a large difference between these types of charges, and a
Mississippi criminal defense attorney can help you differentiate the two.
Misdemeanor Charges
Charges are generally considered to be a misdemeanor when they are characterized with a much shorter jail sentence, usually under a year of imprisonment. The fines for misdemeanor charges, however, are still very expensive and unattractive to any person facing these charges.
Misdemeanors range from DUI offenses to reckless driving to shoplifting (theft) under $300 to the
possession of marijuana (under twenty grams) and more, although some of these offenses can be charged as a felony under specific circumstances.
While these charges are sometimes made out to be minor, they should be taken very seriously by a defendant, and a criminal lawyer should always be sought.
Felony Charges
Felonies, on the other hand, are among the most serious of all criminal charges, and can usually be classified with longer prison terms and much higher fines.
Felonies can include charges of assault and aggravated assault, robbery, kidnapping, rape, murder,
manslaughter and most other
violent crimes. Furthermore, many
white collar crimes and
federal crimes may be considered felonies as well, even though they are not usually categorized as violent.
Being charged with any type of crime can be the most devastating event in a person's life, and will have lifelong effects. In addition to facing a jail or prison term, a defendant may suffer consequences even after a sentence has been served. They may experience increased insurance rates, debt due to large fines that must be paid, and the inability to retain employment.
It is always important to work with a criminal defense attorney for your criminal case, despite how serious or minor you believe the charges are.
For more information on felony and misdemeanor charges, contact a Mississippi criminal defense attorney at Miller & Miller today.