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The Difference Between Misdemeanor and Felony Crimes
Misdemeanor and Felony crimes are defined differently. Felony Crimes are crimes which are punishable by a year or more in prison. Violations are technically not crimes and tend to involve fines and no more then 15 days in jail. While misdemeanor crimes are punishable by at most one year. The location and particular circumstances of incarceration are handled by the department of corrections or on the federal level the bureau of prisons.
The felony classifications in NY are as follows:
A1
A2
B
C
D
E
Mis A
Mis B
Mis unclassified
Each of the above classifications of misdemeanor and felony crimes carry with it sentencing guidelines which may limit a Judge’s discretion during sentencing. One significant aspect of misdemeanor and felony crimes is that the Supreme Court has stated that any crime for which a jail term of one year or can be sentenced will be deemed a “serious crime” and will trigger a defendants right to a jury trial. In New York this means that a class A misdemeanor will mean that a defendant has a right to a jury trial. Many times felony convictions will mean certain rights such as the right hold public office, serve on a jury, vote, own firearms, the right to hold professional licenses such as in the areas of law or medicine and even the right to certain public housing will be terminated. These rights may or may not be terminated with the conviction of a misdemeanor. During the plea bargaining process prosecutors will sometimes be willing to drop charges from felonies to misdemeanors but this is often more difficult then negotiating a plea agreement to the initial charge.
Criminal Defense Attorney
Retaining an attorney that understands the potential consequences of a misdemeanor and felony conviction can make a huge difference in your case. When you or a loved one are facing criminal charges, you need someone fighting on your side. Call the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at 516-858-2620 to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Criminal Hearings to Determine if a Search is Reasonable
The fourth amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees that “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated….” In recent times these principles have had real life consequences on New Yorkers with regard to issues such as the controversial “Stop and Frisk” policy of the NYPD, and arbitrary traffic stops that sometimes result in arrests for driving while intoxicated or drug offenses. There are three main types of criminal hearings in the New York Courts that are held to determine the reasonableness of police search and seizures that relate to these fourth amendment principles. These criminal hearings respectively are; Mapp, Huntley, and Dunaway hearings.
A Mapp Hearing deals with the admissibility of physical evidence obtained by the police as a result of an illegal search.
Huntley Hearings are held to determine if a defendant’s statements to police were made voluntarily and not coerced. If they are found to have been coerced then under the Huntley rule they will not be admissible as evidence.
A Dunaway hearing is held to determine whether evidence was obtained by police as the result of an arrest made where police lacked probable cause to make the arrest in the first place. If it is determined that police lacked probable cause to initiate an arrest any subsequent statements or evidence obtained by police as the result of the arrest will be held inadmissible in court.
Criminal Defense Attorney
Retaining an attorney that understands the nuances of these hearings and how to challenge the accuracy and veracity of evidence in court can and will make all the difference in your case. When you or a loved one are facing criminal charges, you need someone fighting on your side. Call the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at 516-858-2620 to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney.
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