A crime of a graver or more atrocious nature than those designated as misdemeanors Generally an offense punishable by death or imprisonment in penitentiary
In countries where the legal system distinguishes between very serious crimes and less serious ones, a felony is a very serious crime such as armed robbery. He pleaded guilty to six felonies. felonies a serious crime such as murder misdemeanour
A serious crime for which the punishment is prison for more than a year or death Crimes of less gravity are called misdemeanours This term is no longer used in England or other Commonwealth countries but remains a major distinction in the United States Historically, in England, the term referred to crimes for which the punishment was the loss of land, life or a limb
An offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of one year may be imposed For the purpose of sentence, felonies are divided into five categories or classes: A, B, C, D and E felonies Class A felonies are divided into two sub-categories: A-I and A-II felonies Class A felonies carry the longest jail sentences and class E felonies carry the shortest jail sentences for felony cases Jail sentences for misdemeanor and violations or infractions are even shorter
A crime of a graver or more serious nature than those designated as misdemeanor; e g aggravated assault (felony) as contrasted with simple assault (misdemeanor) Under many state statutes, any offense punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
A crime which may be punishable by imprisonment in a state prison and/or a fine, or death Probation, with or without county jail time, is also a possible disposition
An offense which occasions a total forfeiture either lands or goods, or both, at the common law, and to which capital or other punishment may be added, according to the degree of guilt
In Michigan, any serious crime for which the possible maximum sentence is more than one year in prison (Probation can be an alternative to prison in most felony crimes )
a severe crime, usually punishable upon conviction by a large fine or by a term of imprisonment longer than one year or by both fine and imprisonment, or which is punishable by death. Crimes which are punishable by small fines and/or by imprisonment for less than one year are usually called misdemeanors. While crimes punishable by death are felonies, they are also usually referred to as capital offenses