Hire a Dedicated Lawyer Who Specializes In Misdemeanors

What Is a Misdemeanor?

The misdemeanor crime classification is not as severe as a felony, but it is more severe than an infraction. Generally, misdemeanors lead to fines or community service. That is, unless the convicted person was previously charged with misdemeanors, in which case she or he could face sentencing of up to one year in jail.

Misdemeanor vs. Felony

State criminal justice systems separate crimes into different categories: infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Examples of misdemeanors include battery, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, and possession of marijuana.

However, some misdemeanor crimes fall under the felony classification, depending on crime severity. For example, getting caught with a few grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor, but getting caught with several pounds of marijuana is a felony.

Some examples of felony charges with severe consequences include sexual assault, grand theft, aggravated assault, and homicide. If charged with a felony, the consequence can be a prison term of at least one year.

If it is a person’s first offense and it is a non-violent offense, a probation term is more likely. Should the person violate probation, he or she can face the maximum sentence of the initial felony conviction.

Additionally, facing felony charges can take away some civil rights. This includes the right to vote, certain types of employment, and the ability to serve on a jury.

Consequences of Misdemeanor Charges

The severity of punishment following a misdemeanor conviction depends on a few factors:

• The crime committed
• The severity of the crime
• Whether you have previous convictions for the same crime

Misdemeanor classifications and penalties vary by state, with each level carrying different consequences. In most cases, misdemeanors result in fines, community service, probation, or a mix of these penalties. However, crimes bordering on felony severity can sometimes lead to jail time, reflecting their seriousness.

Repeat offenders often face harsher penalties. For instance, someone convicted of multiple driving-related misdemeanors might lose their license through suspension or revocation. States generally impose stricter measures to deter recurring offenses.

Beyond sentencing, a misdemeanor conviction can have lasting repercussions. It stays on your record, visible to potential employers, colleges, and landlords. While often viewed as minor, misdemeanors can significantly limit future opportunities long after the legal consequences have been resolved.

What to Do If You Face Criminal Charges

Step 1: Hire an Attorney

The first thing you need to do following a misdemeanor charge is to contact an attorney near you. An experienced lawyer can best represent you and fight to win your case so you can avoid conviction and having a misdemeanor on your record.

Step 2: First Court Appearance

After receiving a misdemeanor charge, you receive a citation with a court summons. This includes all the details of the charge, as well as the date, time, and location of your first court appearance.

Your court appearance begins with an arraignment, and the clerk provides you with documents that detail your legal rights, including the right to an attorney. During the arraignment, the judge asks if you have read the documents and understand your rights, and ask whether you need an appointed public defender. The judge informs you of the charges and potential sentencing if convicted.

You then plead guilty or not guilty or request an extension to consult with your lawyer. If you plead guilty, you admit you committed the crime and the case moves on to sentencing. If you plead not guilty, the case proceeds to a trial.

Step 3: Plea Bargain

Prior to the trial, a pretrial conference takes place where the defendant and the state can try to come to an agreement to avoid a trial. This is a plea bargain, a common outcome for misdemeanor trials. It benefits both parties because it avoids a time-consuming and expensive trial, and it also lessens the consequences for the defendant.

During this pretrial meeting, your defense attorney presents evidence in your favor to try to reduce the charges or have them dropped altogether. If the prosecution agrees to reduce the charges, they have a plea bargain and will not go to trial.

Step 4: Go to Trial 

If a plea bargain is not met, then the case goes to trial. Your attorney creates a strong and detailed defense to prove reasonable doubt, which hopefully leads to a “not guilty” verdict. If you are found not guilty, your record remains clean and you do not face punishment. If you are found guilty, a sentencing hearing follows the trial, which can include fines, probation, community service, or jail time.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer

Even though misdemeanors are not as serious as felony charges, you should still take them seriously because a misdemeanor can affect the rest of your life. Not only can a conviction lead to hefty fines and jail time, but it also appears on your record and can potentially deter employers from hiring you when they run a background check. That is why you need to hire an experienced, reputable attorney dedicated to fighting for you. Keep the charge off your permanent record.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Contact Aaron at [email protected] for article suggestions, collaborations, or inquiries.