What crimes are considered felonies?

Answer 1

FELONIES are defined as criminal offenses with maximum penalties greater than one year in prison. Felony charges include murder, malicious wounding, and armed robbery, as well as grand larceny, possession of cocaine or heroin and other serious charges. The classification of crime as a felony is based upon the maximum sentence provided by law -- not by what a court actually imposes. Each state and the federal government have their own criminal codes. The element of a particular crime can vary as can the sentencing classification. MISDEMEANOR: Officenses that have a penalty that can include up to one year in jail. The least serious offenses, such as most traffice offenses, are considered infractions for which the penalty is generally under $100 fines. These offenses are generally quick and simple to define and resolve. Most misdemeanors are handled by the issuing of a citation from an arresting officer or a complaint filed by a prosecutor. The citation or complaint includes a short statement of the offense with which you are charged and states whether the offense is an infraction, a misdemeanor, or a felony. Misdemeanors are divided into 4 classes (I, II, III and IV), A Class I misdemeanor is the most prevalent and most serious of all. Class 1 misdeamenors include possession of marijuana, petty parceny (shoplifting) assault and battery, and misdemeanor bad check. Also, several serious traffic offences (DUI, driving while suspended, reckless driving, etc.) are listed as Class 1 misdemeanors.

Answer 2

Each state determines the criminal laws and their penalties. They can designate what crimes are considered felonies. In most cases, a felony is any crime that can result in going to prison for more than a year and misdemeanors are those that can result in going to jail for less than a year.

Answer 3

Felony is a term that is defined by the criminal laws of the state. Pretty much the 'bad' crimes, such as murder and kidnapping are going to be felonies. Robbery or assault with a deadly weapon are going to be felonies.

Typically a felony means prison time, while other violations, such as misdemeanors would be jail or fines.

Answer 4

Crimes commonly considered to be felonies include, but are not limited to: aggravated assault and/or battery, arson, burglary, illegal drug use/sales, grand theft, robbery, murder, rape, and vandalism on federal property. Broadly, felonies can be categorized as either violent or non-violent (property and drug) offenses.

Some offenses, though similar in nature, may be felonies or misdemeanors depending on the circumstances. For example, the illegal manufacture, distribution or possession of controlled substances may be a felony, although possession of small amounts may be only a misdemeanor. Possession of a deadly weapon may be generally legal, but carrying the same weapon into a restricted area such as a school may be viewed as a serious offense, regardless of whether there is intent to use the weapon. "The common law divided participants in a felony into four basic categories: (1) first-degree principals, those who actually committed the crime in question; (2) second-degree principals, aiders and abettors present at the scene of the crime; (3) accessories before the fact, aiders and abettors who helped the principal before the basic criminal event took place; and (4) accessories after the fact, persons who helped the principal after the basic criminal event took place. In the course of the 20th century, however, American jurisdictions eliminated the distinction among the first three categories." Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez, 549 U.S. 3 (2007) (citations omitted).

In some states, felonies are also classified (class A, B, etc.) according to their seriousness and punishment. In New York State, the classes of felonies are E, D, C, B, A-II, and A-I (the most severe). Others class felonies numerically, e.g., capital, life, 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree, state jail or class 1, 2, etc. (VA). The number of classifications and the corresponding crimes vary by state and are determined by the legislature. Usually, the legislature also determines the maximum punishment allowable for each felony class; this avoids the necessity of defining specific sentences for every possible crime.

A felony may be punishable with imprisonment for one or more years or death in the case of the most serious felonies, such as murder. Indeed, at common law when the British and American legal systems divorced in 1776, felonies were crimes for which the punishment was either death or forfeiture of property. In modern times, felons can receive punishments which range in severity; from probation, to imprisonment, to execution for premeditated murder or other serious crimes.

SHORT ANSWER: (in the US) Any criminal offense that, by statute, calls for imprisonment for more than one year in prison is by definition a felonyoffense.

All crimes calling for a less than one year in jail, are by definition, misdemeanors.

Answer 5

Murder is one

Added: While Murder/Homicide definitely falls into that class, all jurisdictions have varying laws and the offenses that are placed into the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree, etc, categories are set by the state legislature.

In fact some jurisdictions don't even classify their offenses by 'degrees.'

Answer 6

A felony is any crime that can be punished by more than one year in confinement or by death.

Answer 7

Usually refers to any assault in which a weapon is used agasint the other party.

Answer 8

Crimes that are of a serious nature are considered felonies. They include crimes such as murder, rape, grand theft, kidnapping, arson, and drug trafficking.