Understanding 9 Classifications of Felony Records

Introduction

Criminal records classification is broken down into a variety of key legal distinctions according to the nature of the offense and criminal involved. Of the two distinct categorizations the criminal law system uses to organize crime and offense, the felonious class refers to the more serious of offenses. Depending on the nature of the crime, the criminal involved, and the punishment allocated by the jurisdiction processing the case, a crime can be further characterized according to charges and class.

The criminal penal system uses the following definition to characterize offenses of the felonious nature: criminal offenses that are given punishment that exceed one year in prison. Anything below this one year mark, is considered a misdemeanor. More specifically, each state has their own means of perceiving this federal regulation in a way that they see fit, in relation to felonious crimes committed in their jurisdiction. This said, the charges, punishment, and processing of an offense in this category can vary greatly from one state to another-thereby greatly influencing an individual’s criminal record.

Felony Record

Felony records are the most searched for criminal records as those seeking criminal history information on potential offenders consider the severity of a felony offense in contrast to a misdemeanor which carries with a less serious connotation more invaluable in relation to the knowledge they can glean from a criminal record. This said, it is not only necessary to learn everything there is to know about felonies crimes in general, but also the specifics of the crime’s nature with disregard to classification to achieve the best information available on a particular individual. Below, we take a closer examination of the felony record, what offenses it may contain, the significance of the particular offense, as well as what could possibly affect the comprehensiveness and accuracy of a criminal records search in regards to felony crimes.

Depending on the particular criminal history of a potential offender of the law, their criminal record could host a variety of different felony crimes in their criminal record. These vary in severity of nature as well as the consequent criminal punishment that ensues after conviction. Common examples of felony crimes include: murder, arson, aggravated assault, grand theft, burglary, and kidnapping, drug possession with intent to sell, rape, and embezzlement to name a few. Any crime that includes the use of a deadly weapon to enact the crime, will necessarily become a felonious offense as well.

While all of the offenses just listed may seem serious in nature and a reason to consider felonious histories penultimate to misdemeanor records, it may not always be wise to do so. This is true for a couple of different reasons, the first being the nature of the crime in relation to your search, and the second being the possibility of its original charge. The first of these considers that just because a crime may not be considered the most serious in relation to the legal system, does not mean that it should not be considered serious to the particular seeker of the information. The second of these considerations is that in many cases, a court proceeding will easily have a felony plead down to a misdemeanor charge for a variety of reasons. In a criminal record, this crime will be listed as a misdemeanor.

When seeking felonious histories on particular individuals, it should be noted that a variety of factors that affect your search for this information. The location of the said crime will determine how it is charged and processed as each state determines its own perspective on felonies. Also, if the crime occurred with the involvement of a minor, the criminal record will most likely be expunged or sealed from public access. Moreover, a felonious record can be influenced by whether or not it was plead according to a less criminal charge as noted previously. This means that the original charge will not be the charge it is listed as in a particular criminal record.

Lastly, as is true of all criminal offenses, a particular crime should be evaluated as its own-as each has its own nature and reasons for its committal. For example, a murder charge-which looks heinous as a criminal misdeed could have been enacted out of defense for one’s life. In this case, the seeker of the information would most probably come away with a different perspective on the offender involved in the crimes.

Class A Felony

Due to the fact that there are a wide variety of serious nature crimes that could be deemed felonies, the classification of felony is further broken down into felony classes. These class felony categorizations are ordered from Class Felony A to I with A felonies denoting the most serious of offenses in the felony category. For the purposes of this article, we will discuss Class A felonies. Depending on the nature of your criminal records search, it is significant that you understand all aspects regarding different kinds of category felonies, what crimes are classified as each, and how this relates to the actual search. This said, we take a closer look below at category A crimes, their punishments, and what variables may affect the rendering of a particular offense in this category.

Class A offenses are the most serious of class felony charges there are and are sometimes referred to as Class felony 1 crimes. The two most common of felonies in this categorization though every crime varies according to state governance is first degree intentional homicide and felony murder. Both of these types of crimes are precedent upon certain characteristics according to the nature of the murder in order to be categorized as an offense of this nature; and these characteristics are fairly standard from state to state.

First degree intentional homicide is defined as “an unlawful killing that is both willful and premeditated”, meaning that the criminal involved decided to kill, planned it out, and committed the act according to this planning. Closely tied to the definition of first degree murder is the term, felony murder. Where one would think that felony murders would necessarily umbrella first degree intentional homicide, it is more correct to say that in many states one is committed by acting through the other. To elucidate this point, the “felony murder rule” is examined more closely. Many states use this rule to classify murders into Class A crimes. It states that “a person commits first degree murder if any death (even an accidental one) results from the commission of certain violent felonies-usually arson, burglary, kidnapping, rape, and/or robbery”. So, while many states may consider accidental death occurring during an illegal felonious act involuntary manslaughter (or third-degree murder), still other states offer no mercy to criminals involved in a violent nature crime, who happen to murder unintentionally in the process of the carrying out the original crime.

Punishment for Class A crimes vary according to state jurisdiction, but common penalties are a minimum of life imprisonment and/or the death sentence in states that accept certain crimes as capital offenses. It should be noted that it is not uncommon for a defendant to be given consecutive life sentences or extended penalties due to the severity of crime, if they are a repeat offender of these crimes, and/or many murders were incurred due to their criminal activity.

In keeping with this changeability of standard punishment for first degree murder or felony murder charges, it should also be considered that depending upon a list of various incidentals involved in the commission of a crime, a felony murder can be plead down to a lesser degree of punishment. Common examples of these factors can include: temporary insanity, insanity pleas, childhood neglect or abuse, etc. In these cases, if these possible influencing factors can be proven in relation to the felony murder committed, then most likely the charges will be given a considerably lesser judgment. In contrast, if a defendant of said felony murder charges can be proven to have made the situation more serious-such as with the use of a deadly weapon, if harm was done to a minor, if particular aggravated violence or sexual assault was intended as a part of the murder charge; then the prosecution can easily ask for a punishment more severe than the normal punishment for a felony first degree murder charge in that particular state. Moreover, if a potential offender of said felony crimes is a first-time offender, they will most likely receive a sentence less than that of someone who has committed repeat illegal activity and crimes of any classification.

When it comes to the criminal record of someone who has committed a first-degree felony, a number of variables can affect the location and nature of the record as noted above. It could be one or many of the factors described above, such as jurisdictional court, state statutes, prosecution, mental state of the criminal, as well as other circumstantial aspects that either maximize the seriousness of the crime or lessen the degree. While of course, it is necessary to consider felonies as the serious crimes they are, each case should always be evaluated for the actual specifics of the crime, as well as viewed not just as a Class A felony in contrast to something seemingly less such as a misdemeanor but also as a crime that could have originated as something either less or more serious. With this in mind, it is absolutely crucial to learn all you can about the classifications of crime such as the categories of felony so that you know what variables can contribute to the felony criminal record you may find on a particular individual. The particulars of a felony offense should always be considered penultimate to the actual offense presented.

Class B Felony

Since felony crimes and offenses are categorized by classes according to the severity of a particular felony crime, it is necessary to understand just how this crime and punishment scale works in relation to an effective felony criminal record check. In the following article, we discuss exactly what a Class B felony is, what crimes are common to the Class B felony classification, what punishments are typically incurred, and how a felony offense of Class B can be affected in relation to criminal records.

First off, in the classifications of felony crime, there are 9 classes of crime severity, ordered A-I, with A felony crimes being the most severe and I felonies being the least. Class B felonies being the second most serious in this structure, it is a legal classification that requires close evaluation. The standard penalty for a felony offense in Class B typically offers imprisonment of up to 60 years in a prison, with increased sentencing for criminal convictions that are of repeat criminal offenders-of any crimes, misdemeanor or felony.

There are a variety of offenses that are typically denoted as Class B felonies from state to state jurisdiction despite the fact that most states vary in how they perceive, regulate, and punish all criminal activity. The most common of these felony Class B crimes are: second degree intentional homicide (otherwise known as manslaughter), first degree reckless homicide, conspiracy, first degree sexual assault or rape, and/or kidnapping.

To elucidate the nature of these felony crimes and their seriousness in contrast to other categories of felony crimes, it is best to give a working definition of each. Manslaughter though considered slightly different from state to state is the taking of another human’s life without premeditation or malice. Manslaughter differs from felony first degree homicide in that this type of murder requires planning, whereas manslaughter is situational and spontaneous. First degree reckless homicide varies to these two felony offenses in that it is typically considered due to criminal negligence, meaning the criminal did not mean to murder anyone. Conspiracy is the agreement between two individuals to commit a grave illegality and is an offense that in some states is considered this type of felony. Rape or first degree sexual assault (considered one or another state by state) is another common criminal charge that is held accountable by this category of criminal charges. Lastly, kidnapping is the taking of any individual against their will into another’s custody to be held imprisoned. All of these offenses are this category of felony crime, but different factors particular to the individual nature of the crimes and how they are carried out, will determine how a criminal court decides to punish a convicted criminal.

In the matter of any of these felony crimes listed above, how the court perceives the offense in relation to state statute, repeat offender status, mental state of the defendant, and other limiting factors; will in turn color how the criminal conviction is laid out and with what severity of penalty incurred. This said, a criminal arrest and conviction of a Class B felony can be detailed in a variety of different lights in a person’s specific criminal record. This said, it is crucial that the particulars of every criminal case be evaluated as its own and not considered a blanket negative or positive in a criminal record check that is ordered. As is true of most crimes committed, the degree of criminal intent and malice should always be considered alongside the actual felony criminal conviction in a criminal record.

Class C Felony

Felony crimes come in a variety of criminal classes depending upon the legal seriousness of the felony crime committed. Though how these felony crimes are viewed and punished from state to state may vary greatly, there are some standards as regards the classes of felonies-at least in the basic structuring of these crimes. The classification of felonies is ordered either from Class 1-9 or Class A-I according to state, with Class 1 or Class A crimes being the most serious of offenses in this category. Every person seeking any sort of information that may be contained in a particular criminal record, should first be thoroughly well versed on aspects of the legal system as well as regarding classes of crime. For the purposes of this article, we will discuss Class C felony offenses and how they are characterized according to crime and punishment, to best prepare you for a thorough and accurate criminal history search.

Class C felony crimes in this classification typically offer penalties of imprisonment of up to 40 years and/or fines of up to $100,000. While not the most serious of felonies, Class C offenses are certainly not the mildest class, and carry with them varying degrees of respective penalties within these parameters, and according to crime specifics, state jurisdiction, and other influential criminal law factors that may or may not be situational.

Of the most common crimes of this Class C of felony, these particular class offenses are processed in criminal courts most often: felony drunk driving (5th or more incident), kidnapping, arson, robbery, second degree sexual assault, and/or vehicular homicide while intoxicated. While it should be noted that these offenses can vary in name, nature, and punishment from state to state, it is necessary also to recognize that these are standard crimes of this class on a national basis of occurrence.

As each state is given judgment in accordance with their own perspective on criminality of any classification or degree as long as their punishments fall within the federal legal confines each crime is dealt with in a different matter as regards severity of punishment. Some states view felony DWI/DUI crimes as much more serious offenses than others and may punish offenders with more time and/or fines than others; while other states may consider robbery crimes only serious offenses punishable by full Class C penalty if appropriated with the use of a deadly weapon. This said, the more lenient or severe the nature of a criminal court and the state statute by which they are ordered, will determine how strict a conviction may appear on a particular criminal record.

With this in mind, it should be noted that many felony criminal records of any class, offer the resulting conviction charge, not the original; and this is pertinent information that should also be considered when reviewing a felony criminal history on a particular individual.

It is not uncommon for a felony crime to be plead down according to varying factors that are situational such as: mental state of the defendant, prior criminal history, factors that may have lead them to the crime, and other contributing factors that may lessen the felony charge. Moreover, on the other hand, a felony criminal offense can easily be aggravated in the eyes of the court if certain circumstances were at play as well, such as: if a minor was involved, a deadly weapon used, or the criminal intent to commit another felony was involved. These aspects of a particular felony criminal case are always considered as either aggravating or limiting to the possible criminal punishment facing the defendant that is depending on which variables are present in the felony crime.

According to all or any of these criminal case factors, a defendant can subsequently have a serious or less serious and incriminating criminal record on file. All of these factors greatly influence how a criminal record is characterized, and therefore, how anyone seeking this information perceives their criminal history.

Class D Felony

When it comes to determining how a criminal record can be best evaluated for completeness and accuracy, it is necessary to note how the various classifications of felony interact with the details listed therein. While being aware of common terms such as felony and misdemeanor gives a seeker a good beginning basis for a solid search of this kind, the specific classes of these crime branches should also be given proper attention. With this in mind, we turn our focus to felony crimes. Each felony offense can be broken down into 9 specific felony classes according to the seriousness of the felony crime.

From Class A felony to Class I felony offenses a crime of a felony A status being the worst criminal cases are categorized according to the legal system. From this solid felony foundation of class structure, states have the ability to characterize each class according to their own considerations regarding severity and punishment, to best ascertain how each class of felony will be given penalty. It is from the perspective of both the general foundation definition of felony crimes, as well as, specific state variance of felony crime, that we take a closer look at all that is Class D felony crimes below.

Class D felony offenses can cover a variety of felony crimes according to serious nature in any given jurisdiction, from felony drunk driving to solicitation of a minor; but all are considered serious despite the nature. This is why they are given the criminal charge of felony instead of misdemeanor. While certain legal and circumstantial factors can certainly play into the felony punishment incurred for said class crimes, the standard federal regulations that criminal courts use as parameters for felony punishment are: imprisonment up to 25 years and/or fines of up to $100,000. If the said offender has committed this type of class crime or another in his/her history, this repeat status will automatically win them an extended imprisonment and/or heavier fines.

The most central of Class D felony crimes apparent in this country include the following class offenses: felony vehicular homicide, child enticement, felony drunk driving (5th or more offenses), vehicular homicide while intoxicated, and solicitation of a child. The list does not end here, nor does it exclude lesser charges that if given the right characteristics, could easily be moved up to a more serious Class D felony charge.

What are these characteristics that may alter the standard outcome of a class conviction and sentencing? There are, of course, a variety of aspects of the criminal justice system that are considered when dealing with class crimes of this nature. These, in turn, influence how severe or mild a punishment may be within the confines of a certain sentencing; and thus, affect how a criminal record is read. Common factors of this kind begin with the state in which the crime is committed.

Each state has a different legal perspective on how an offense should be handled, and this translates to more or less severe penalty for different offenses. Moreover, typically, if the felony of this class is committed with a certain intent, it will be given a different sentencing accordingly such as whether the intent was negligent or done with malice. Another common factor that affects many criminal cases of this class of offenses is also if the crime was carried out with the use of a deadly weapon. In most states, these criminal punishments can easily be doubled in penalty if a weapon is involved. The same typically results when a minor is involved. When considering any felony of this class, not only the title of said felonious crime should be considered; but also, these factors as they can be very telling as to the nature of the offense and said offender in a criminal records search.

Class E Felony

A criminal record search is affected by a variety of factors, with one of the most telling of these factors being what class of crime was committed and also what class of said classification the arrest or conviction was for. It is common knowledge that a felony offense denotes a more serious felony crime, while a misdemeanor denotes a less severe class offense. While in general, this maxim may be true to life, it is not always necessarily paramount to define a severity of criminal offense in a criminal history by just whether it was a felony or misdemeanor crime. Instead, it is necessary to look first at the class of felony crime, and second, to the specifics of the particular class felony crime and criminal. In this following article, we examine Class E felonies by definition of felony as well as how felony offenses can be affected by said variables, to best evaluate the significant felony basics to consider in any examination of a particular class criminal record.

First, to best understand Class E felony crimes, it is probably best to give an example or two of what sort of felony offenses are characterized as this classification of felony, in order to best understand the parameters of felony standard respective class punishment. The most common of Class E felony crimes occurring in this country are the following: felony battery with great bodily harm intended, robbery, and/or burglary. While all of these felony crimes are also commonly charged with other felony classes, certain variables presuppose them to fall within this felony category according to the nature of the felony crime as well as the specifics of the offensive felony act.

To best explain how a Class E felony crime can be charged as less or more severe a felony crime, it is probably best to take a look at the more common of Class E felony crimes, as listed above, as examples. First, battery is easily defined as the carrying out of intent of harm. Simple battery could be charged as a misdemeanor or lesser felony, but if the offense is aggravated and/or involves great bodily harm to the victim involved, the felony charges could easily be pronounced Class E felony or above. Moreover, if a deadly weapon was used in the commission of battery, or even if the threat of one was introduced, the felony charges will easily show a more severe class felony of Class E felony status. The same applies to the other two common felonies of this class referenced earlier, felony robbery and burglary. While simple felony charges of either of these could be lesser felonies or possibly misdemeanors if excessive violence, a deadly weapon, or another felony crime were introduced in the exercising of this criminal felony activity; the felony crime becomes a Class E or more felony. It should be noted that while each state governs slightly differently in the punishment of all crimes, that the previously explained topic of felony offenses in this paragraph, typically remains true for all state jurisdictions.

The standard punishment for these felony crimes, initiated by the federal government, and analyzed by each state on their own is considered the foundation parameters for classes of felony crimes. This said, the given parameters for crimes of this class are the following: a criminal convicted of a crime of this class can be penalized by imprisonment of up to 15 years and/or fines of up to $50,000. It should be noted, however, that if said felony offender has a criminal history that includes any class criminal activity especially previous offenses in this felony class and/or nature that the rendering of punishment will easily be aggravated to more serious class felony penalties.

Class F Felony

When it comes to completing an effective criminal record search on a particular individual, it is absolutely crucial that the person seeking the information understand, not only how the criminal records industry works, but also, how the legal system that feeds it invaluable information does as well. While the criminal law system can easily be a complicated maze of definitions and legal definitions, a good place to start when deciphering what can be listed in a criminal record, is classification. For the purposes of this article, we will discuss the category of felony crimes as they are classified according to Class F felony offenses. Below, we examine the common crimes of this felony class, standard felony punishment, as well as extenuating factors that can limit or aggravate the standard felony penalty for offenses in this felony category.

Class F felony offenses are by no means the worst of felony classifications, nor the mildest class of felony; but as a vital part of the felony classification, these classes of felony should, of course, be considered just as valuable. These class felony offenses though different courts in different jurisdictions do vary typically carry with them a standard class felony punishment of up to $25,000 in fines and/or imprisonment of up to 12 ½ years for first time felony offenders. For repeat felony offenders, the class felony penalty is most often made more severe automatically, no matter the class felony offense or nature of the felony offense.

The most prevalent types of Class F felony crimes include: felony stalking, felony theft, felony burglary, felony sexual exploitation, and failure to act to prevent sexual assault of a child. While all of these class felony offenses are serious, these felony crimes are not always processed as such, depending on a wide array of aggravating or mitigating factors inherent in the legal system. Dependent upon these factors is how the court perceives these felony factors, how the prosecution and defendants acknowledge the felony factors, and how the jurisdiction handling the said crime reigns in these perceptions on felony variables.

With this in mind, it is quite probable that you are wondering what sorts of mitigating or aggravating factors could influence the felony penalty of one or more of these above instances of these felony crimes. While criminal law can be a complicated topic to generalize, it should be considered that each case needs to be afforded its own attention; and in doing so, justice is not only more likely to be served, but also, the felony crime processed and filed in the most accurate of means for the future reference of felony criminal records search. The factors that most often affect a crime of this felony nature begin with the jurisdiction in which the felony crime occurred. Each state is given governance over how they analyze the statutes of penalty for classes of felony crime. One state may consider burglary a Class F felony if it includes the use of a deadly weapon, while another may consider all burglary crimes Class F felonies regardless of accessory. Other felony factors include how many times the felony offense has been committed by the defendant involved. More often than not, all jurisdictions will greatly increase felony penalty for repeat felony offenders, as the criminal has obviously not learned anything from previous felony penalties. Moreover, if other types of crime were either intended and/or carried out in the process of committing the felony crime in question, a court will easily assign more felony penalty.

There is an endless amount of variables such as these that could influence the outcome of a particular felony, and this is why it is vital to understand what these felony factors are, as well as how these felony crimes can affect rendering; as all of this information will be collected and detailed in a criminal record on the felony offender in question, and affect how this felony record is received in relation to these very details of felony category.

Class G Felony

Felony crimes are considered in our criminal legal system, the worse of two evils involving felony class offenses that are more serious than that of class misdemeanors. While it is important to recognize felony crimes as significant aspects of a particular criminal record, knowing what type of felony class of felony, as well as what other factors that were involved in the commission of and processing of the class felony crime, should be equally acknowledged and reviewed. It is for this purpose for identifying felony crimes, that we take the example of Class G felony offenses to best elucidate the significance of felony class and felony criminal case details in completing a comprehensive criminal record search for felony background information on a particular felony criminal and felony offense.

Class G felony crimes can include a variety of criminal felony class offenses, with the most common of these being: felony negligent homicide, felony negligent vehicular homicide, felony embezzlement, and some instances of felony theft. These felony class crimes are, of course, serious, but are also considered lesser class felonies, and are given felony punishments respectively. The classic parameters for these felony crimes as regards felony class punishment is imprisonment up to 10 years and/or felony fines of up to $25,000. It should be noted that many factors can influence these felony class penalties, however, to be less or more than these parameters of felony class punishment and felony penalties.

Perhaps to best understand Class G felony crimes, it is a good idea to explain exactly what facilitates the previous examples of felony class crimes; in short, what is the definition of felony class negligent homicide, felony negligent vehicular homicide, felony embezzlement, and felony theft; and what makes these felony class crimes characteristics of these felony class charges as opposed to any other class of felony? Felony negligent homicide is basically the commission of a murder of a human being due to felony criminal class negligence. This type of felony class murder is considered less serious than manslaughter or first-degree felony murder because there is no intent to harm, malice, or premeditation involved. The felony defendant simply killed the victim due to mistake. The same applies to felony class negligent vehicular homicide, but this time, it refers to the use of a vehicle to kill a human being without premeditation or malice. The felony classification of embezzlement is the stealing of funds from a certain entity in a non-violent manner. Most often, felony class embezzlement is a white collar crime that includes stealing from one’s employer. Lastly, certain types of felony theft can be considered Class G felony crimes. The classification of felony theft is the knowing taking of another person’s property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the person of said property. Depending on the value of the property stolen, if it is stolen by excessive force, and also what state it is stolen in; will classify it as a certain class of felony.

While no class of felony class is insignificant as regards its criminal felony class nature, a difference should be examined amongst classes of felony class crimes. These class crimes can be straightforward class offenses such as felony negligent homicide or felony embezzlement with standard class-specific penalty, or they can be lesser or more serious felony class crimes altered by specific felony class circumstance-such as state jurisdiction, people involved, weapons used, crimes committed during the act, previous offenses, etc. Being able to evaluate a Class G felony for not just the class, but also the variables that may have influenced its criminal felony class charges and felony class conviction is key to ensuring you use the invaluable information located in a felony class criminal record to its potential.

Class H Felony

There are a variety of ways that people use to define felony class crimes. Whereas some people consider any felony class listed in a particular criminal record serious, others consider what class of felony was committed, and what the specific details of the case involved. Depending on how comprehensive your criminal records search is, it is always best to locate as much information on a particular class crime and criminal in an effort to best evaluate their criminal history. This said, we take a closer look at the Class H felony crime its definition, examples of felony crime, standard felony class punishment, and factors that can limit or exacerbate the felony class punishment that follows a convicted felon.

First off, a Class H felony carries with a federal regulated felony penalty of imprisonment of up to 6 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000. While these penalties are simply a guideline for crimes under this classification, it is typical that the jurisdiction governing said punishment stay within these confines. As it is up to each state how they process these types of crime, penalty of course can vacillate according to their perception of certain offenses and what punishments should be necessarily given out to fit the crime; but this is why there are 9 classification of felony crimes, it helps states choose a penalty for each crime.

While names of certain criminal charges, as well as the criminal charges themselves, may be placed in these various classes differently according to state; there are certain offenses that are placed in the Class H felony category on a regular basis, from all states. These are: battery with great bodily harm incurred, stalking, theft, embezzlement, and false imprisonment. These crimes, while less than most serious in the scope of felony classifications, are still moderately serious offenses, and can be punished accordingly depending on the nature of crime, as well as the location that the crime was committed in.

The nature of a particular felony crime can significantly affect how the governing court receives the information and renders felony penalty for the felony offense. Criminals who have already been convicted of the same felony offense or just have a noticeable felony criminal history to offer, can easily be given more strict felony punishment for one of these felony crimes, whereas first time felony offenders would receive the least strict of felony penalty within the class felony parameters. Also, if a deadly weapon was used or another crime was committed or intended during the commission of this felony, a felony criminal will necessarily get a stronger felony sentence. Moreover, if the court feels as if there is no remorse for a said felony crime, they will most probably assign severe felony class punishment accordingly in an effort to rehabilitate the felony criminal from crime.

The nature of a particular felony crime of this felony class should most definitely be paid attention to when completing a criminal records search, to best understand the severity of the felony crime.

In the matter of location of a felony crime’s commission, the ensuing felony penalty can vary greatly accordingly. Though there are the standard parameters for felony punishment according to the federal statute of imprisonment for no longer than 6 years and/or fines of no more than $10,000; how a state perceives a certain type of felony offense, can greatly affect not only the criminal felony class charges and felony class involved in the felony crime, but also the range of respective felony class punishment for said felony crime. For example, one state may consider felony embezzlement an extremely serious felony crime, punishable to the full penalty of the felony class confines; whereas another state may view felony class embezzlement as less serious and offer a moderate felony class fine or felony class prison term accordingly. The location of a said crime will determine how the felony charge is identified in a criminal record, so examining the manner in which a particular state deals with felony class offenses should always be a part of criminal records research.

Class I Felony

The category of felony in a particular criminal case is necessarily significant to any criminal history check for pertinent criminal information. While it is important to recognize that the offense is a felony and not a misdemeanor, it is equally as important to understand the different categories of felony crimes and how they are regarded by the criminal law system handling them. This is especially true of Class I felony offenses, as they are just on the cusp of being designated a class felony, so it is wise to consider each case individual. Below, we examine what makes a felony of this type designated as such, what crimes typically fall under this category, as well as why misdemeanors and felonies should be regarded in the same manner with these felony crimes.

Class felonies are ordered from A to I (in some states, 1-9), with A being the most severe of crimes and I denoting the least severe of crimes. Category I offenses, while the least serious, is still a class felony, and should be acknowledged as such. What types of crimes are bad enough to be a felony, but too mild to be a higher degree of felony? The most common of offenses that fall into this category are: embezzlement, battery with substantial bodily harm incurred, stalking, theft, and child pornography. All of these crimes can be acknowledged as more severe offenses depending on state, repeat offense status, and other aggravating factors; but standard conviction of these crimes will allow for a felony category charge.

As each category is ordered by a particular punishment singular to that category, I felonies follow suit accordingly. Federal regulation offers penalties of up to 3 ½ years imprisonment and/or fines of up to $10,000 for criminals convicted of type I crimes. While these guidelines are important in rendering punishment for these types of crimes, a number of factors can greatly influence what part of the penalty spectrum a judgment will fall within. The most significant of these variables are: state jurisdiction, criminal history, nature of crime, how many offenses committed, if a weapon was used, and if a minor was involved. All of these can help determine how strict a criminal sentencing will be administered to a particular defendant.

Another significant aspect of this category of felony offenses that should be considered during any criminal records search is how close they are to the category of misdemeanor. If you find a criminal record that offers information on a felony of this type, what possible conclusions can you draw from this? One thing to consider and endorse more research into, is whether or not the crime started as a felony of this category. In many cases, criminal charges are plead up or down according to the characteristics of crime and criminal, so what might have begun as a misdemeanor charge, ended up as a felony charge due to a number of aggravating factors.

Moreover, the same criminal record could have had the crime plead down to a lesser charge-as a category I offense-which means that the defendant most probably accepted blame for the crime in return for a lesser charge on their criminal record. In both cases, being privy to this information could greatly influence your perspective on a particular individual’s criminal history.