Felony

Felony Definition

In the US legal system, a felony is a categorization of a crime. In criminal terms, felonies are considered the most serious type of offense. In the US, felonies are considered crimes that generally carry a sentence of an imprisonment term longer than one year.

What Are Some Examples Of Felonies?

Man about to commit a felony with a knife.

Felonies can broadly be classified into two distinct categories: violent felonies, or nonviolent felonies. Violent felonies consist of offenses involving physical or psychological trauma to an individual, whereas nonviolent felonies can be limited to property, fraud, or drug related crimes.

Violent Felonies

• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Rape
• Robbery
• Sexual Assault
• Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Kidnapping
• False Imprisonment

Nonviolent Felonies

• Treason
• Espionage
• Grand Theft
• Racketeering
• Fraud

There are also multiple degrees of felonies, which vary from state to state. Such classification may be dependent upon seriousness of the crime and potential punishment upon conviction. Punishment can range in severity from a mere fine or rehab, to life imprisonment or death depending on the sentencing laws of the state.

Felonies can either be violent, or nonviolent. Prison sentences for felonies under state law will be served in either state or federal prison depending on whether or not the individual violated a state or federal law. Shorter terms can be served in county jail. However, a felony sentence can sometimes be shorter than one year depending on the discretion of the presiding judge and statutes of limitation.

What Are The Consequences For Having A Felony On Your Record?

Each state has its own laws that determine what constitutes a felony crime, and the corresponding punishment.

People with felonies for the most part cannot join the United States Army, though if the felony was committed when the person was a juvenile they do have a chance of getting into the military. It also doesn't matter if the case has been sealed or expunged, because the military requires such records to be revealed, and if it is not revealed then that is a felony in itself. Other consequences of being a convicted felon include:

• Losing the right to vote
• Losing the right to hold public office, or run for office, although the person may be able to have these rights restored
• Being disqualified from jury duty for seven years
• Losing the right to buy, or possess a firearm
• Being denied approval to foster or adopt a child if any member in the household has been convicted of a felony that falls within certain categories
• Being evicted from a mobile home if the tenant was convicted of a felony that is detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the other occupants
• Being denied federal assis tance for student loans and grants if the crime involved possession or sale of a controlled substance
• Losing certain types of professional licenses in certain industries such as architecture, private detective, watchmen, or patrol services, any profession under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Health, legal professions such as attorneys, judges, and magistrates, electrical work, radiography, major contracting, accounting, psychology, and insurance sales.

Other professional licenses may be revoked or suspended on conviction of certain crimes that indicate a lack of good morale character.