You have the right to have a criminal defense attorney in Greeley Colorado for all types of criminal charges. With a criminal defense attorney in Greeley Colorado, you stand the best chance of getting the best possible outcome. Here are the differences between misdemeanors and felonies and what they mean when it comes to criminal convictions and punishments.
Misdemeanors are the legal term for crimes that are less serious, yet are still criminal convictions. Misdemeanors in Colorado have a sentence of less than 18 months and a fine that is less than $5000, depending on the class of misdemeanor the crime is. Misdemeanors are still considered crimes and will result in a criminal record, meaning that there could still be issues with jobs or housing that requires a background check.
Felonies, on the other hand, are reserved for the most serious of crimes. There are six different classes of felonies. With a Class 1 felony, the punishment is the most severe and the punishment can be the death penalty or life in prison. With a Class 6 penalty, the least serious of Colorado felonies, the punishment can be between a year to 18 months in prison. Most crimes in Colorado fit into one of these six classes that each have their own set sentence length and fines associated with the class. Felons also have non-criminal penalties depending on the crimes, which could involve serious issues with work or housing and restrictions on firearm ownership to name a few.
Regardless of the type of crime you are charged with; you should hire a criminal defense attorney to assist in your defense. Being found guilty of any sort of crime can have long-term consequences beyond just a jail term or fine.