When it comes to the discussion of punishment for crime we are all generally familiar with the terms misdemeanor and felony. Most of us know that felonies are the most serious of crimes. But what is the difference between the two? Here I will discuss the major differences between misdemeanors and felonies to answer this question.
The major difference between the two is that misdemeanors have a maximum punishment of one year jail time and a fine up to $2,500, while felonies may result in prison time of one year or more and more than $25,000 in fines. The State decides which crimes are the most serious and then classifies them accordingly. Within the categories of misdemeanor and felony there are different levels which aims to vary the punishment of the offense. For example in North Carolina the most serious felonies are considered a Class A offense and thus receive the highest punishment, while the least serious felonies are considered to be a Class I offense and receive a lesser punishment.
