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A crime of any type will probably get you some form of penalty ranging from fines to a jail sentence. In North Carolina, a crime can either be classified as a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the surrounding factors like the type and gravity of the offense. Both types of crimes have their own punishments under the North Carolina law and supervision of the courts. Never go to court for a misdemeanor in North Carolina without a criminal defense attorney.
A misdemeanor is considered a lesser crime as compared to a felony. The penalties for misdemeanors can be fines, probation or a short jail sentence, usually less than a year. Information regarding your crime and consequent penalty are available for public use including employers, landlords and even future sentencing. This may have negative impacts on your future. Felonies are much more serious offenses. Felony sentencing can be probation, serious time in prison, life in prison, and even the death penalty in some cases.
Misdemeanors are in four categories in North Carolina – A1, 1, 2, and 3. The severity and circumstances of the crime play a major role in determining the class of the misdemeanor. An experienced North Carolina attorney will defend and advise you of your rights.
In North Carolina, there are three ways punishment can be served. When convicted for misdemeanor in North Carolina, the individual may be sentenced to:
The class A1 is for more severe misdemeanor crimes. They carry a maximum penalty of 150 days of active, intermediate or community punishment. Most A1 misdemeanors involve assault. The fine is left to the discretion of the court; there is no specific maximum fine. Common misdemeanor offenses under this class include:
The maximum penalty for a Class 1 misdemeanor is 120 days of active, intermediate or community punishment. The fine is also left to the discretion of the court. Class 1 misdemeanor offenses include:
Punishment for a Class 2 misdemeanor is usually 1-60 days of active, intermediate or community punishment. The maximum fine is $1,000. Here are some of the common offenses classified under Class 2 misdemeanor:
Class 3 is for the least severe misdemeanors in North Carolina. Punishment can include 1-20 days of active, intermediate or community punishment and this may include a $200 fine. Some instances of Class 3 offenses are:
There are many factors that determine the penalty for a misdemeanor in North Carolina. An offense by itself is not enough to determine the punishment for an offense. Aside from taking the four classes of misdemeanor into account, the court considers the accused's previous conviction level before passing judgment. The conviction level ranges from Level I to Level III.
Level | Convictions |
Level I | No prior convictions |
Level II | 1-4 prior convictions |
Level III | 5 or more prior convictions |
If you need help, a North Carolina criminal defense attorney can assist you with determining your prior record level. The class of the offense and the level of prior conviction work hand in hand in ascertaining the suitable penalty. The higher the severity of the crime, and the more the previous convictions a person has, will affect the sentencing. Therefore, for more serious crimes like assault on a female or child, or assault with a deadly weapon, previous convictions will have a higher impact on the penalty.
A North Carolina criminal defense attorney can assist you with determining your prior record level.
For instance, if you are convicted for an assault with a deadly weapon and have no prior convictions, you may be sentenced to 60 days in jail with fines. But with 5 or more previous convictions, you may face up to 150 days in jail. Previous convictions will also increase the amount of fine.
Finally, in any of these cases, North Carolina reserves the right to determine the punishments to the judges based on any of the above factors.
When faced with a misdemeanor in North Carolina, you need the services of an experienced North Carolina criminal defense attorney. Misdemeanor crimes should not be taken lightly. A criminal defense attorney can help you achieve a lesser sentence since the judge’s decision is mostly discretionary. Additionally, an attorney can assist you in taking the right course of action. If you are facing criminal charges for a North Carolina misdemeanor contact our office for a free attorney consultation.
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