If you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony in Arizona, you should contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer. He or she can protect your rights in court and help you to work towards beating the charges or getting reduced penalties. You want to work towards the best possible resolution in order to get back to your life as soon as possible.
Many people don’t know the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony. One of the primary differences is the sanctions and penalties you will face if you are convicted. Felonies carry harsher penalties than misdemeanors, which means longer prison or jail sentences, higher fines, and longer probation periods. The other big difference is your ability to reintegrate back into society once you’ve satisfactorily completed those punishments. If you are convicted of a felony, the conviction remains on your permanent record, you lose your right to vote, you will have to explain the felony conviction to potential employers, and it can also affect your ability to rent. Misdemeanors usually don’t have these long-term consequences.
Arizona Misdemeanor Crimes
This is a criminal offense that is punishable by less than a year of jail time. You can also receive probation and fines. Here are the classifications for misdemeanors and the associated jail time.
- Class 1 Misdemeanor – 6 months
- Class 2 Misdemeanor – 4 months
- Class 3 Misdemeanor – 30 days
- Here are a few examples of misdemeanor offenses:
- Battery
- Disorderly Conduct
- Domestic Violence Battery
- Driving on a Suspended License
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- First Offense Prostitution
- Loitering and Prowling
- Marijuana Possession
- Petty Theft
- Resisting an Officer without Violence
Since the consequences aren’t as harsh as a felony, many people make the error of not hiring an Arizona criminal defense attorney. But a misdemeanor conviction will appear on your criminal record. There is no guarantee that it can be expunged, or removed, later, and you will have to go through a complicated process to do so. If you accept a probation sentence, you can face jail time if you fail to meet any of the requirements, even if it’s just not paying a fine in time.
If you hire a good Arizona criminal defense attorney, it could be possible to have the case dismissed. Even if that’s not a possibility, an Arizona criminal lawyer may be able to help you get a Withhold of Adjudication instead of a Guilty conviction.
Arizona Felony Crimes
Punishment for conviction of a felony can lead to more than a year in prison. Usually, the most experienced prosecutors are asked to handle felony trials, so it is very important to have an experienced, knowledgeable Arizona criminal defense lawyer working for you. Here are the classifications for Felony charges and the associated prison sentences.
- Class 1 Felony – 25 years to life in prison (For first degree murder charges, the death penalty is also possible.)
- Class 2 Felony – 5 years
- Class 3 Felony – 3 and a half years
- Class 4 Felony – 2 and a half years
- Class 5 Felony – 1 and a half years
- Class 6 Felony – 1 year
Here are some examples of felony offenses:
- Aggravated Assault
- Aggravated Battery
- Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
- Burglary
- Child Abuse
- Drug Possession (Except Marijuana)
- Felony Battery
- Grand Theft
- Homicide
- Kidnapping
- Resisting Officer with Violence
- Sexual Battery (Rape)
- Lewd and Lascivious Battery
- Lewd and Lascivious Molestation
Additionally, if you are convicted of a felony, you will lose some of your civil rights. You will be ineligible to obtain State Licenses, receive federal or state aid, or hold public office. You will have a more difficult time finding a job since the conviction will appear on your record, and it can also affect your ability to rent an apartment. In limited cases, it is possible to get a conviction expunged from your record or have some of your civil rights restored, but it will depend on many factors, including how your case was handled initially.
Get Help from an Experienced Arizona Attorney
Both misdemeanors and felonies carry significant penalties. It’s important to attain knowledgeable legal assistance soon after you are arrested to give your attorney a better opportunity to handle your case, which includes evaluating legal defenses available to you, discussing your legal rights, considering the admissibility of the evidence, minimizing the damage to your criminal record, and minimizing your chances of receiving jail time.
Get help as soon as possible from an Arizona criminal defense attorney.
