Here at Chambers Law Firm, we are always asked about the differences between a felony, misdemeanor, and infraction charge. According to California law, there are some salient differences, and it’s good to be aware of them if you’re facing one or more charges.
Infractions 101
Let’s start with infractions. This charge is considered the least serious of all the possible charges because if the defendant is convicted, there is no possibility that he or she will have to serve time in either county jail or state prison.
Most infraction sentences involve paying fines, and the amount of the fine charge varies widely depending on the kind and severity of the crime committed.
Other penalties are possible instead of or in addition to fines. For example, your driver’s license may be suspended or completely revoked by either the court judge or the Department of Motor Vehicles as a penalty for driving-related crimes.
Infraction charges will not appear on individuals’ criminal records. Infractions are not eligible for trial by jury.
It’s important to hire Southern California’s best criminal defense lawyer, Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firms, for even relatively minor infractions. In many cases, he can get the charges dropped completely or if you are convicted, negotiate much lesser fine amounts. In addition, he may be able to prevent your license from being suspended or revoked.
It may seem unnecessary to hire a criminal defense attorney for an infraction case, but it can equal hundreds, perhaps even thousands of dollars in savings for you. It’s completely worth it! Dan Chambers has worked on many infraction cases during his multi-decade career, so he has many fantastic legal strategies to implement in your infraction case to achieve the best possible outcome.
Misdemeanors 101
Moving on to misdemeanors, this crime is categorizes as less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction. If someone is convicted of a misdemeanor charge, he or she may have to serve prison time, depending on the severity and circumstances of the crime. The maximum amount of required jail time is between 6 months–1 year in county jail for each alleged misdemeanor crime. Fines may also have to be paid for misdemeanors.
Misdemeanor charges do appear on individuals’ criminal records. Having a criminal record, even if it just has a misdemeanor on it, may impact the ease of acquiring employment, applying to schools, and obtaining loans.
Misdemeanor charges are eligible for trial by jury, since the stakes are higher than infraction charges.
If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor, contact Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm to schedule a free consultation ASAP by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or sending an online message by clicking CONTACT at the top right of this page.
Felonies 101
Last but not least, felonies are very serious charges. If you have an excellent lawyer like Southern California’s top defense attorney Dan Chambers, your felony charge might be reduced to a misdemeanor. Other charges may be severe enough to be punishable by life in prison or even death. If convicted, many felony charges require individuals to serve their sentences in state prison, rather than county jail, which is often considered much less pleasant.
One important difference between a felony and a misdemeanor or infraction is the fact that prosecutors must prove “probable cause” of the defendant’s guilt before the case may be tried by a jury. If the prosecutor can’t manage to prove probable cause that you committed the crime to a judge, he or she will dismiss your case.
That’s why if you’re facing a felony charge, it’s absolutely imperative that you call 714-760-4088, email dchambers@clfca.com or send criminal defense attorney Dan Chambers an online message via the CONTACT button at the top of this page ASAP. He will start building your defense strategy right away, and employ every effective method possible to defend you aptly.
For a Southern California lawyer who will really fight for you in infraction, misdemeanor, and felony cases, contact Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm today.
