What is Misdemeanor?
A less serious crime punishable by up to one year in county jail, fines, probation, or community service.
Understanding Misdemeanor
Misdemeanors include offenses like petty theft, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and first-offense DUI. While less serious than felonies, misdemeanors still create a criminal record that can affect employment, housing, and immigration status.
Examples
- 1Simple assault with no serious injury
- 2Shoplifting items under felony threshold
- 3First-offense DUI without aggravating factors
Related Terms
Felony
A serious crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, such as murder, rape, robbery, or drug trafficking.
Probation
A court-ordered period of supervision in the community instead of imprisonment, subject to conditions like regular check-ins, drug testing, and avoiding new crimes.
Expungement
The legal process of sealing or destroying criminal records so they are not accessible to the general public or appear on background checks.
DUI/DWI
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is the crime of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
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