From a legal perspective, most crimes fall into one of two categories: misdemeanors or felonies. The former are less serious crimes than the latter, but being charged with either classification can still have a profound impact on your life. To better understand the two and the bearing these charges could have on your case, the criminal defense lawyer at Reiman Law Firm in Lincoln, NE, discusses the three key differences between them.
Misdemeanor vs. Felony
1. Severity of Consequences
Because felonies deal with major crimes like murder, sexual assault, and armed robbery, a misdemeanor charge tends to come with less severe penalties. Many misdemeanors are redressed by the defendant paying fines set by the court and any applicable criminal laws. If jail time is mandated for such a conviction, it is often a shorter duration, typically no longer than one year.
2. Time in a Federal or State Correctional Institution
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f convicted of a felony, you serve your prison sentence in either a federal or state correctional institution. Those serving jail time for a misdemeanor are usually housed in local or county jails. Though a felony is the more serious crime, life in a federal- or state-run institution is often preferable to a local jailhouse, where short staff and fewer rules sometimes create dangerous and unstable living conditions.
3. The Right to a Trial by Jury
A person charged with a felony who plans to plead not-guilty has the right to a trial by jury and a criminal defense lawyer. The jury consists of 12 individuals tasked with deciding the fate of the accused. With a misdemeanor, this is not always an option, and if it is, it’s often by a smaller group of just six people; this largely depends on the scope and severity of the crime.
If you are facing either felony or misdemeanor charges, turn to the criminal defense lawyer at the Reiman Law Firm for the exceptional legal counsel you deserve. Call (402) 477-2130 or visit him online to schedule a consultation for advice. Trust your case and your future to a professional who has been successfully serving the Lincoln area for over 14 years.
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