All crimes committed in the State of Florida are classified into misdemeanors and felonies. A felony is the most serious crime and is punishable by more than one year in prison or by death. Depending on the nature of the alleged crime, a felony may be governed by the state law and tried in a state court or be governed by federal law and tried in the federal court. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by a prison sentence of one year or less and misdemeanors include theft of property, battery, trespassing, and disorderly intoxication. If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony crime in Florida, you need the skills and experience of a West Palm Beach attorney to represent you in court and argue your case.
Classification of Felonies in Florida
If you commit a felony offense in Florida, you could spend a considerable amount of time in prison, serving a life sentence without a possibility of parole in prison, or you could receive the death penalty.
- First Degree Felony – A fine not exceeding to $10,000 and up to 30 years in prison.
- Second Degree Felony – Up to 15 years in prison and a fine not exceeding to $10,000.
- Third Degree Felony – Up to 5 years in prison and fine not exceeding to $10,000.
- Life Felony -- Life imprisonment and a fine not exceeding $15,000.
- Capital Felony – Life imprisonment without parole or death.
A capital felony is restricted to murder cases only while life felony is for those who engage in a continuing criminal enterprise.
Have You Been Charged with a Felony Offense?
Other than a large fine and prison time, a felony offense conviction will make it difficult for you to obtain employment, obtain a college loan from the government, rent a home, or obtain a professional license. If you have been charged with a felony offense, the sooner you get a West Palm Beach attorney for your case, the better chance you have of a positive outcome. Contact our office at David Olson Law if you want to get in touch with a criminal defense attorney.
