A convicted felon is a person who has been found guilty of committing a serious crime known as a felony offense. Felony offenses are severe crimes that can result in imprisonment for one year or more in a state or federal prison.
Examples of felony offenses include murder, rape, robbery, drug trafficking, and white-collar crimes such as embezzlement or fraud.
Once a person has been convicted of a felony offense, they may face imprisonment, fines, community service, probation, or a combination of these penalties.
Do Convicted Felons Have Restricted Rights?
Yes, convicted felons in the United States have restricted rights, including but not limited to the following:
- Voting rights: In many states, felons lose their right to vote while incarcerated and, in some cases, even after they have completed their sentence. However, some states have laws that allow felons to have their voting rights restored after they complete their sentence.
- Gun ownership: Federal law prohibits felons from owning firearms, and many states also have laws that restrict or prohibit felons from owning firearms.
- Employment opportunities: Felons may face challenges in finding employment because many employers conduct criminal background checks. Certain industries, such as law enforcement or childcare, may have restrictions on hiring felons.
- Housing: Landlords and property owners may be reluctant to rent to felons due to safety concerns and potential property damage.
- Public assistance: Felons may be ineligible for certain types of public assistance, such as federal student loans, and may also face restrictions on obtaining professional licenses.
- Jury service: Some states have laws that permanently disqualify felons from serving on a jury, while others require felons to have their civil rights restored before being eligible for jury service.
What Are Some Common Types of Felonies?
There are numerous types of felonies, but some of the most common include the following:
- Drug crimes: Drug crimes include possession, distribution, and trafficking of illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
- Property crimes: Property crimes include theft, burglary, and arson. Felony theft typically involves taking property valued above a certain amount, such as $500 or more, while burglary involves entering a building with the intent to commit a crime.
- Violent crimes: Murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, and robbery are all considered violent crimes.
- White-collar crimes: White-collar crime includes embezzlement, fraud, and other financial crimes that are typically committed by professionals in positions of trust.
- Sex crimes: This includes rape, sexual assault, and child pornography offenses.
- Weapons offenses: Weapons offenses include possession and use of firearms or other dangerous weapons in the commission of a crime.
- Conspiracy and racketeering: This involves a group of people working together to commit a crime, such as drug trafficking or money laundering.
The classification of a crime as a felony can vary by state and can depend on the severity of the offense, the value of the property involved, and the offender’s criminal history.
What Are the Penalties for a Felony Charge?
The penalties for a felony charge can be severe depending on the nature of the offense and the state in which it was committed.
In general, felony charges can result in a sentence of imprisonment in a state or federal prison for one year or more. Additionally, convicted felons may face fines, community service, probation, and other legal consequences, such as losing voting rights or the right to own firearms.
In some states, felony charges are divided into categories based on the severity of the offense. For example, in California, there are three categories of felonies: “wobblers” (crimes that can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor), “low-level” felonies, and “serious” or “violent” felonies. More serious offenses carry longer prison sentences and higher fines.
Compared to misdemeanor charges, felony charges carry more severe penalties. Misdemeanors are less serious offenses that can result in a sentence of up to one year in county jail, a fine, or both. Some examples of misdemeanor offenses include DUI (driving under the influence), disorderly conduct, and simple assault.
Here are some additional examples of misdemeanor offenses:
- Petty theft: Petty theft involves stealing property with a value below a certain amount, typically less than $500 or $1,000 depending on the state.
- Trespassing: Trespassing involves entering or remaining on someone else’s property without permission.
- Vandalism: Vandalism involves intentionally damaging or defacing property belonging to someone else.
- Reckless driving: This includes driving a vehicle in a manner that endangers others on the road, such as speeding or swerving between lanes.
- Possession of marijuana: While some states have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes, possession of marijuana can still be a misdemeanor offense in states where it is illegal.
- Prostitution: Prostitution involves offering or engaging in sexual acts for payment.
- Harassment: This involves engaging in behavior intended to annoy, threaten, or intimidate someone else, such as making repeated phone calls or sending threatening messages.
The classification of an offense as a misdemeanor can vary by state, and the penalties for misdemeanor charges can also vary depending on the nature of the offense and the defendant’s criminal history. However, misdemeanor charges generally carry less severe penalties than felony charges.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Help with Felony Charges?
If you are facing felony charges, seek advice and representation from an experienced criminal lawyer. A criminal lawyer can evaluate the evidence against you and develop a strong defense strategy to protect your interests and mitigate potential penalties.
Felony charges can have serious and long-lasting consequences, including imprisonment, fines, and restrictions on your rights and freedoms. Therefore, having a knowledgeable and skilled criminal lawyer on your side is crucial to help you navigate the criminal justice system and fight for the best possible outcome in your case.
If you are facing felony charges or are concerned about a potential criminal investigation, don’t wait any longer to reach out to a criminal lawyer for help.
LegalMatch’s online service can help you connect with a skilled and experienced lawyer who can assist you with your legal needs. Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or felony charge or simply need legal advice or representation for a civil matter, LegalMatch can help you find the right attorney for your case.
One of the key benefits of LegalMatch is that it allows you to easily and quickly find attorneys who specialize in the type of law you need assistance with. You can be confident that the lawyer you are working with has the knowledge and experience necessary to help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
LegalMatch allows you to compare the credentials and fees of multiple attorneys before you make a decision about which one to work with. This can help you decide which attorney is the best fit for your case based on their experience, credentials, and rates.
LegalMatch also provides a range of resources and tools that can help you understand your legal rights and options and the legal process itself. For example, LegalMatch offers articles and FAQs on a wide range of legal topics and a free online law library where you can research legal concepts and case law.
LegalMatch offers a satisfaction guarantee to ensure that you are satisfied with your chosen attorney. If you are not satisfied with your attorney, LegalMatch will provide you with a referral to another attorney at no additional charge.
By connecting you with skilled and experienced attorneys and providing a range of resources and tools to help you understand the legal process, LegalMatch can help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
Mhalifu aliyehukumiwa ni mtu ambaye amepatikana na hatia ya kufanya uhalifu mkubwa unaojulikana kama uhalifu mkubwa. Uhalifu wa uhalifu ni uhalifu mkubwa ambao unaweza kusababisha kifungo cha mwaka mmoja au zaidi katika gereza la serikali au la shirikisho. Mifano ya makosa makubwa ni pamoja na mauaji, ubakaji, wizi, biashara haramu ya dawa za kulevya, na uhalifu wa collar nyeupe kama vile udanganyifu au udanganyifu. Baada ya mtu kuhukumiwa kwa kosa la uhalifu, anaweza kukabiliwa na kifungo cha gereza, faini, kazi ya jamii, jaribio, au mchanganyiko wa adhabu hizi. Je, Wafungwa Wenye Hukumu Wana Haki Zilizozuiwa? "Hakika, wahalifu waliohukumiwa nchini Marekani wana haki zilizopunguzwa, ikiwa ni pamoja na lakini si mdogo kwa zifuatazo: ""Haki ya kupiga kura: Katika majimbo mengi, wahalifu hupoteza haki yao ya kupiga kura wakati wa kufungwa na, katika baadhi ya kesi, hata baada ya kumaliza hukumu yao." Hata hivyo, majimbo fulani yana sheria zinazoruhusu wahalifu kurudishwa haki zao za kupiga kura baada ya kumaliza kifungo chao. Sheria ya serikali ya Marekani inakataza watu wenye silaha kuwa na silaha, na majimbo mengi pia yana sheria zinazozuiwa watu wenye silaha kuwa na silaha. - Fursa za ajira: Wahalifu wanaweza kukabiliwa na changamoto katika kupata ajira kwa sababu waajiri wengi hufanya ukaguzi wa historia ya uhalifu. Viwanda fulani, kama vile utekelezaji wa sheria au utunzaji wa watoto, vinaweza kuwa na vizuizi juu ya kuajiri wahalifu. - Makazi: Wamiliki wa nyumba na wamiliki wa mali wanaweza kuwa na hamu ya kukodisha kwa wahalifu kwa sababu ya wasiwasi wa usalama na uharibifu wa mali uwezekano. - Msaada wa umma: Wahalifu wanaweza kuwa na haki ya aina fulani za msaada wa umma, kama vile mikopo ya mwanafunzi wa shirikisho, na wanaweza pia kukabiliwa na vizuizi juu ya kupata leseni za kitaaluma. Baadhi ya majimbo yana sheria ambazo zinakataza wauaji wa uhalifu kufanya kazi katika baraza la mahakama, wakati wengine wanahitaji wahalifu kupata haki zao za kiraia kabla ya kustahili kuwa wahalifu. Ni Aina Zipi za Uhalifu Zenye Kuenea? Kuna aina nyingi za uhalifu, lakini baadhi ya kawaida ni pamoja na zifuatazo: uhalifu wa madawa ya kulevya: uhalifu wa madawa ya kulevya ni pamoja na kumiliki, usambazaji, na biashara haramu ya madawa ya kulevya kama vile cocaine, heroin, na methamphetamine. - Uhalifu wa mali: Uhalifu wa mali unatia ndani wizi, wizi, na kuchochea moto. Uibaji wa mali kwa kawaida unahusisha kuchukua mali yenye thamani ya juu ya kiasi fulani, kama vile $ 500 au zaidi, wakati wizi unahusisha kuingia kwenye jengo na nia ya kufanya uhalifu. - Uhalifu wenye jeuri: Mauaji, mauaji yasiyo ya kimakusudi, mashambulizi makali, na wizi wote huonwa kuwa uhalifu wenye jeuri. Uhalifu wa White Collar: Uhalifu wa White Collar ni pamoja na udanganyifu, udanganyifu, na uhalifu mwingine wa kifedha ambao kwa kawaida hufanywa na wataalamu katika nafasi za uaminifu. - Uhalifu wa kingono: Hilo latia ndani ubakaji, unyanyasaji wa kingono, na uhalifu wa ponografia ya watoto. - Uhalifu wa silaha: Uhalifu wa silaha ni pamoja na kumiliki na kutumia silaha za moto au silaha nyingine hatari katika kutekeleza uhalifu. - Ushirika wa kikatili na ulaghai: Hii inahusisha kikundi cha watu wanaofanya kazi pamoja ili kutekeleza uhalifu, kama vile biashara haramu ya dawa za kulevya au uvujaji wa fedha. Uainishaji wa uhalifu kama uhalifu unaweza kutofautiana kulingana na jimbo na inaweza kutegemea ukali wa kosa, thamani ya mali inayohusika, na historia ya uhalifu wa mhalifu. Ni Adhabu Gani Zinazopatikana Kwa Kushtakiwa kwa Uhalifu? Adhabu za mashtaka ya uhalifu inaweza kuwa kali kulingana na asili ya kosa na hali ambayo ilitendwa. Kwa ujumla, mashtaka ya uhalifu yanaweza kusababisha hukumu ya kifungo katika gereza la serikali au la shirikisho kwa mwaka mmoja au zaidi. Kwa kuongezea, wahalifu waliohukumiwa wanaweza kukabiliwa na faini, kazi ya jamii, marufuku, na matokeo mengine ya kisheria, kama vile kupoteza haki za kupiga kura au haki ya kumiliki silaha. Katika majimbo fulani, mashtaka ya uhalifu makubwa hugawanywa katika makundi kulingana na uzito wa kosa hilo. Kwa mfano, katika California, kuna makundi matatu ya uhalifu: <unk>wobblers<unk> (uhalifu ambao unaweza kushtakiwa kama uhalifu au uhalifu mdogo), <unk>halifu za kiwango cha chini, na <unk>uhalifu mbaya<unk> au <unk>uhalifu wa vurugu<unk>. Uhalifu mkubwa zaidi husababisha vifungo virefu zaidi vya gereza na faini kubwa zaidi. Ikilinganishwa na mashtaka ya uhalifu mdogo, mashtaka ya uhalifu mkubwa huongoza kwenye adhabu kali zaidi. Uhalifu mdogo ni kosa dogo ambalo linaweza kusababisha kifungo cha mwaka mmoja au zaidi katika gereza la kaunti, faini, au zote mbili. Mifano fulani ya makosa madogo-madogo ni pamoja na DUI (kuendesha gari chini ya ushawishi), mwenendo usio wa kawaida, na shambulio rahisi. Mfano wa makosa ya makosa madogo ni wizi mdogo, ambao ni wizi wa mali chini ya thamani ya dola 500 au zaidi kulingana na jimbo. - Kuingilia: Kuingilia kunahusisha kuingia au kubaki kwenye mali ya mtu mwingine bila ruhusa. - Uharibifu wa mali: Uharibifu wa mali unahusisha uharibifu au uharibifu wa mali ya mtu mwingine kimakusudi. - Kuendesha gari bila kujali: Hii inajumuisha kuendesha gari kwa njia ambayo huweka hatari wengine barabarani, kama vile kuendesha kwa kasi au kugeuka kati ya mistari. """Wakati baadhi ya majimbo yameruhusu matumizi ya bangi kwa ajili ya burudani au dawa, kumiliki bangi bado inaweza kuwa kosa la kosa katika majimbo ambapo ni kinyume cha sheria." - Ujangili: Ujangili huhusisha kutoa au kushiriki katika vitendo vya kingono kwa malipo. - Kushambulia: Hii inahusisha kushiriki katika tabia inayokusudiwa kumsumbua, kutisha, au kumtisha mtu mwingine, kama vile kufanya simu mara kwa mara au kutuma ujumbe wa kutisha. Uainishaji wa kosa kama kosa dogo unaweza kutofautiana kulingana na jimbo, na adhabu kwa mashtaka madogo pia inaweza kutofautiana kulingana na asili ya kosa na historia ya uhalifu wa mshtakiwa. Hata hivyo, kwa kawaida mashtaka ya uhalifu mdogo hayana adhabu kali kama mashtaka ya uhalifu mkubwa. Je, Ninahitaji Mwanasheria Anayesaidia Katika Mashtaka ya Uhalifu? Ikiwa unakabiliwa na mashtaka ya uhalifu, tafuta ushauri na uwakilishi kutoka kwa wakili wa uhalifu mwenye uzoefu. Mwanasheria wa jinai anaweza kutathmini ushahidi dhidi yako na kuendeleza mkakati thabiti wa ulinzi ili kulinda maslahi yako na kupunguza adhabu zinazowezekana. Mashtaka ya uhalifu yanaweza kuwa na matokeo mabaya na ya muda mrefu, ikiwa ni pamoja na kifungo, faini, na vizuizi juu ya haki na uhuru wako. Kwa hivyo, kuwa na mwanasheria wa jinai mwenye ujuzi na mtaalamu upande wako ni muhimu kukusaidia kusafiri katika mfumo wa haki ya jinai na kupigania matokeo bora iwezekanavyo katika kesi yako. Kama wewe ni inakabiliwa na mashtaka ya uhalifu au ni wasiwasi kuhusu uwezekano wa uchunguzi wa jinai, si kusubiri tena kufikia nje kwa mwanasheria wa jinai kwa msaada. Huduma ya mtandaoni ya LegalMatch inaweza kukusaidia kuunganisha na mwanasheria mwenye ujuzi na uzoefu ambaye anaweza kukusaidia na mahitaji yako ya kisheria. Kama wewe ni kukabiliwa na kosa au uhalifu mashtaka au tu haja ya ushauri wa kisheria au uwakilishi kwa ajili ya suala la kiraia, LegalMatch inaweza kukusaidia kupata mwanasheria sahihi kwa ajili ya kesi yako. Moja ya faida kuu ya LegalMatch ni kwamba inakuwezesha kupata kwa urahisi na haraka wanasheria ambao ni wataalamu katika aina ya sheria unahitaji msaada na. Unaweza kuwa na uhakika kwamba mwanasheria unayefanya kazi naye ana maarifa na uzoefu unaohitajika kukusaidia kufikia matokeo bora iwezekanavyo katika kesi yako. LegalMatch inakuwezesha kulinganisha sifa na ada za wanasheria wengi kabla ya kufanya uamuzi kuhusu ambayo moja ya kufanya kazi na. Hii inaweza kukusaidia kuamua ni mwanasheria gani anayefaa zaidi kwa kesi yako kulingana na uzoefu wao, sifa, na viwango. LegalMatch pia hutoa rasilimali na zana ambazo zinaweza kukusaidia kuelewa haki zako za kisheria na chaguzi na mchakato wa kisheria yenyewe. Kwa mfano, LegalMatch inatoa makala na FAQs juu ya mbalimbali ya mada ya kisheria na bure online sheria maktaba ambapo unaweza utafiti dhana za kisheria na kesi ya sheria. LegalMatch inatoa dhamana ya kuridhika ili kuhakikisha kwamba unaridhika na wakili wako aliyechaguliwa. Ikiwa haujaridhika na wakili wako, LegalMatch itakupa mwelekeo wa wakili mwingine bila malipo ya ziada. Kwa kuunganisha na wanasheria wenye ujuzi na uzoefu na kutoa rasilimali mbalimbali na zana kukusaidia kuelewa mchakato wa kisheria, LegalMatch inaweza kukusaidia kufikia matokeo bora iwezekanavyo katika kesi yako.