Generally, a felony in the State of Maryland is a criminal offense which is punishable by one year or more in prison. The State does not classify its crimes according to classes such as “A,” “B,” or “C.” Instead, sentencing and the seriousness of each Felony is defined by the nature of the crime committed itself. Below you will find crimes that are considered Felonies in the state of Maryland.
Felony Sentencing and Convictions in Maryland
The State of Maryland simply provides its felony statutes by defining the crime and its degrees, if any. The following sets forth examples of how the State of Maryland designates its felonious criminal offenses and the sentences affiliated with each offense.
- First Degree Murder
- Sentencing: death penalty, life imprisonment
- Second Degree Murder (murder with malice aforethought)
- Sentencing: a term of years to life imprisonment
- Sentencing: a term of years to life imprisonment
- Felony Murder (includes murder which occurs in the commission of any of the following crimes: arson in the first degree; rape in any degree; sexual offense in the first or second degree; sodomy; mayhem; robbery; carjacking or armed carjacking; burglary in the first, second, or third degree; or kidnapping)
- Sentencing: a term of years to life imprisonment
- Attempted First Degree Sex Offense
- Sentencing: up to life imprisonment
- Attempted Second Degree Sex Offense
- Sentencing: up to 20 years imprisonment
- Manslaughter
- Sentencing: depending upon the degree and nature of the crime, up to 25 years
- Robbery
- Sentencing: up to 25 years imprisonment
- First Degree Assault
- Sentencing: up to 22 years imprisonment
- Second Degree Assault
- Sentencing: up to 10 years imprisonment
Maryland Felony Records and Expungement
According to the Maryland Code of Criminal Procedure Section 10-105, an expungement may only be applied for in certain situations. These include the following:
(1) the person has been acquitted;
(2) the charge was otherwise dismissed;
(3) a probation before judgment was entered (in most cases);
(4) a nolle prosequi (no prosecution) was entered;
(5) the criminal charge was marked stet;
(6) a charge of assault was dismissed pre-trial;
(7) the case was transferred to the juvenile court; or
(8) the person was convicted of only one criminal act which was not an act of violence and was granted a full and unconditional pardon by the Governor.
Felony Statute of Limitations in MD
The following are the time limits in which a criminal prosecution must be filed against a defendant for a felony in the State of Maryland.
- No limitation: murder
- 3 years: manslaughter, vehicular homicide, tax offenses, unauthorized practice of medicine
- 2 years: criminal malfeasance by state public officer, criminal offenses pursuant to state election laws
- 1 year: all others
View all Criminal Statutes in Maryland.
Help from a Lawyer in Maryland for a Felony
If one is charged with a felony in Maryland, one should consider retaining an experienced criminal attorney. An experienced attorney can not only review one’s case in order to determine what options one may have, but also an attorney can help to preserve one’s rights.
