A person cannot merely understand the jargon of legal terms and the detailed documentation required. An expungement plea can get rejected just based on insufficient documentation. A qualified attorney eliminates the possibilities of such errors making the process much simpler and more comfortable for the person.
There are two types of crimes: the misdemeanor crime, and the second one is a felony. These are further divided into four subtypes: Petty Misdemeanor, Ordinary Misdemeanor, Gross Misdemeanor, and Felony. In this article, we will understand the itsacrime difference between all four types of crimes.
What is a petty misdemeanor?
A petty misdemeanor is the lowest level of misdemeanor. It is not considered a crime. It cannot be treated as a crime as there is no jail term for committing a petty misdemeanor. The maximum fine for a petty misdemeanor is $300. Even though it is not treated as a misdemeanor crime, it enters the accused’s criminal record. They do show up in the background check for employment or even purchasing a property. Some employers may let go of the petty misdemeanor charges, but it depends entirely on their decision. Some misdemeanor examples of the crime are speeding, possessing a small amount of marijuana. A skilled criminal defense lawyer can help you get rid of the misdemeanor charges.
An Ordinary Misdemeanor
The very first difference between a petty and ordinary misdemeanor is prison time. If a person is convicted of a regular misdemeanor, he/she can serve up to three months in prison and even a $1000 fine. Less serious crimes are termed misdemeanor crimes. One way qualified attorneys use the ordinary misdemeanor is to lower the penalty in court by proving a crime under an ordinary misdemeanor. The prison sentence and the fine are comparatively much lower than a felony. Misdemeanors also get a probation period of up to 3 years. Some of the common misdemeanor examples are first offense Driving When Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under Influence (DUI).
Gross Misdemeanor
Gross Misdemeanor may be termed as a repeated ordinary misdemeanor. If an accused is repeatedly charged with a misdemeanor like drunk driving, prostitution can lead to a gross misdemeanor. Gross misdemeanors are placed between felonies and misdemeanors. Gross misdemeanor crime can get fined up to $3000.
Gross misdemeanor penalty leads to collateral consequences. These consequences are a fair warning to the citizens. Collateral Consequences are civil sanctions provided to the criminal that follow up to the criminal conviction. Some gross misdemeanor examples are revoking driver’s license, license to practice medicine, or any other license profession, finally leading to the collateral consequences of permanent residency loss. The probation period for a gross misdemeanor is up to 3 to 6 years.