A misdemeanor charge is a minor criminal charge. The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor offense is one year in the county jail (usually a facility located within the county where the Defendant is sentenced).
Examples of misdemeanors are:
- Assault
- Battery
- DUI (1st or 2nd Offense)
- Domestic Violence
- Shoplifting/Petit Theft
- Driving on Suspended License
- Possession of Marijuana (under 20 grams)
- Possession of Paraphernalia
A felony charge is one for which a person may be sentenced to serve a period of time in the State Penitentiary/Prison. This sentence can vary from year and one day up to life, depending upon the charge. Some felony charges carry with them the potential of a sentence of death. A person convicted/adjudicated of a felony, whether prison time is ordered or not, loses their right to own a firearm and vote. Florida law (as of 7/1/04) allow for only one withhold adjudication (or not being a convicted felon) for first time offenders charged with a third degree felony, and in limited exceptions, for offender charged with a second degree felony. Florida law no longer allows for withhold adjudications for first degree, or higher, felonies.
Examples of felony charges are:
- Murder
- Possession, Delivery, or Sale of a Controlled Substance Robbery
- Felony DUI
- Aggravated Battery
- Burglary
- Grand Theft
