What is a Felony?

What is a Felony?

A Felony is the most serious level of crime. A felony is defined as any crime punishable by at least a year in prison. Many felonies have mandatory minimum prison sentences outlined in the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines (http://www.msgc.state.mn.us/guidelines/grids/grid_2008.pdf).

Felony convictions can have consequences in addition to prison time. Many felony convictions result in a loss of rights to vote and own a firearm. A non-citizen can be deported upon a felony conviction. Likewise, an enlistee may be barred from joining the armed forces. Some crimes are very serious and require no previous criminal record to be classified as a felony, like murder or aggravated robbery. Other crimes become felonies when the person charged has a history of similar convictions.

For example, when a person has been convicted of three previous qualifying DUI/DWI convictions within the previous 10 years, the next, or fourth, DUI/DWI they commit is charged as a felony. Some crimes become felonies based on a monetary amount. For example, theft of property or services worth more than $1,000 is charged as a felony.

Felonies are very serious offenses that often have long lasting deleterious effects on a person’s life. Often a person will be denied employment, housing and some services because of a felony conviction. A person representing themselves—pro se—is at a disadvantage when facing felony charges. Because the stakes are so high in a felony case, legal representation is required to ensure that your rights are not violated, that the case has been handled and charged appropriately, and that the proposed sentence is appropriate, or that the trial is fair. Felonies are complicated cases, and require a lawyer’s expertise.

Catherine is licensed to practice state law in the State of Minnesota.

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