Understanding the Difference Between a Felony and a Misdemeanor

If you’ve been charged with a crime, your Mineola criminal defense lawyer can help you understand what the charge means. For example, most states recognize two primary classifications of crimes. If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor, the offense is considered to be less serious than if you had been charged with a felony. As an experienced criminal lawyer can explain, misdemeanors carry the potential penalties of jail, probation and/or fines. But often times misdemeanor charges can be plea bargained to lesser non-criminal charges or even dismissed in certain cases.

If you’ve been charged with a felony, your lawyer will likely prepare you for a more extensive plea negotiating process or trial. If convicted of a felony charge, you’ll face the possibility or mandatory requirement of state prison depending on the charge, up to five years of probation and/or fines that could be in the thousands. There are varying degrees of felonies, which your attorney can explain to you. For example, violent felony offenses are the most serious charges someone can face. Your criminal defense attorney can also explain the potential long-term ramifications of a felony conviction, such as being barred from voting or purchasing a gun. If you’ve been charged with a felony, it’s particularly important to work with a veteran criminal lawyer.

At the Law Offices of Schalk, Ciaccio & Kahn, PC, in Mineola, NY, all of our attorneys are former prosecutors thoroughly familiar with the criminal justice system and they put their years of experience to use for their clients every day. If you or a loved one has been arrested or is being accused of a crime, either a misdemeanor or a felony, our team of criminal defense lawyers is there to fight to ensure your rights are protected at every stage of the case. Call us for a free consultation at 516-858-1266 or visit us at SCKESQ.com.