What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?

In West Virginia, felonies and misdemeanors are two different levels of criminal offense. A felony is the most serious type of crime and is normally punishable by imprisonment of over one year. Because of the severity, felonies generally carry much more serious penalties such as higher fines and longer jail sentences than misdemeanors. Misdemeanors, on the other hand, are less serious offenses and are generally punishable by less than a year in prison or by just a fine. Generally, for misdemeanors, jail time is usually not more than one year or if you don’t do any jail time, there could be a fine or probation. The most important difference between a felony and a misdemeanor is the consequence. A felony conviction has more long-term consequences than a misdemeanor. Felons are typically not allowed to vote, possess firearms, or serve on juries, among other rights. Furthermore, a felony charge can remain on your record for the rest of your life, while a misdemeanor usually only remains on your record for three to seven years and can then be expunged from your record. Overall, felonies are considered to be more serious offenses than misdemeanors and have more long-term consequences for those convicted. The legal system will take into consideration a person’s criminal history when determining the penalty for a current crime. As such, it’s important to get legal counsel and understand the long-term implications of a felony conviction.

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What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?

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