by Jennifer Foster

Created on: August 03, 2011   Last Updated: August 04, 2011

Words like felony and misdemeanor generally give people a feeling of overall unrest.  Most know that these terms are used to identify crimes or charges brought against an individual.  While both words can seem menacing, they greatly vary in severity where the law is concerned.  Felonies are typically worse crimes that are punishable with jail time in a state or federal prison.  While some misdemeanors will result in a short jail stay, they are generally limited to fines and county or local jails.

Classifications:

Misdemeanors can be further divided into three levels of severity.  Class A, B, and C Misdemeanors are often used depending on how significant the charge is.  Some states also use Class 1, 2, and 3 instead of letters.  Class C is the least in penalty of the three with Class A carrying the worst penalties.  Many times, attorneys will attempt to plead a felony charge down to a Class A Misdemeanor for their clients.

Penalties:

Class A Misdemeanors will usually have a penalty of a fine, imprisonment, or a combination of the two.  Fine limits will vary by state, but a typical ceiling is about $10,000.  A Class A Misdemeanor can also carry up to a year of jail time for first offenders and as much as 24 months for a repeat offender.  A person convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor will also have criminal charges documented on their permanent record.  In addition to direct fines and physical incarceration, many judges can also require probation to be apart of sentencing.  This may carry additional fees, limits on geographical travel, and assignment of a probation officer for a set period of time. 

Examples:

While there are many factors that will determine what is considered a Class A Misdemeanor, there are some crimes that will typically be charged in this category.  Possession of small quantities of marijuana, driving while intoxicated (DWI), and delinquency of a minor seem to be the most common.  Other examples that may be considered a Class A Misdemeanor are perjury, resisting arrest, petty vehicle theft, assault, public lewdness or indecency, and unlawfully carrying a weapon without permit.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not attempt to take the place of a legal professional.  Because state laws vary considerably in regards to laws and penalties, this is a general synopsis of Class A Misdemeanors and is not meant to be state specific.  Always consult an attorney for legal guidance or counsel.

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