Felonies

Aggravated Assault Laws and Penalties

Aggravated assault is a felony crime of violence that offense involves serious bodily harm, a weapon, or a vulnerable victim. Learn how states penalize aggravated assault.

Aggravated Battery Laws and Penalties

Aggravated battery can result in a felony conviction, which can mean prison time, hefty fines, and a criminal record. Learn what can turn a simple battery charge into an aggravated battery charge.

Armed Robbery: Laws and Penalties

A person commits armed robbery when he takes something from someone else by using violence or intimidation and while carrying a dangerous weapon.

Arson Laws and Punishment

Committing arson is a serious offense that could mean prison time and steep restitution orders.

Assault With a Deadly Weapon

Assault with a deadly weapon is a felony offense regardless of the actual injuries caused to the victim. A defendant convicted of assault with a deadly weapon faces a stiff prison sentence.

Attempted Murder

Of all the crimes punished by society, none are more serious than the crime of murder, the intentional and unlawful taking of a human life. Apart from the federal crimes of espionage and treason, murder is the only crime for which the death penalty is a potential punishment, though only in some states.

Assault or Battery Against a Police Officer

Many states impose harsh felony penalties for assault or battery against a police officer. Learn what prosecutors must prove to get a conviction and possible defenses.

Burglary: Charges, Penalties, and Sentencing

When most people think of burglary, they think of a thief in a black outfit sneaking into someone's home in the middle of the night. While such activity definitely counts as burglary, the legal definition applies to a much broader range of activities.

Cocaine Possession

An overview on the consequences of being charged for cocaine possession or use, criminal penalties and sentencing that would apply, and how a lawyer may be able to help.

Child Abuse: Laws & Criminal Penalties

While all states have laws that govern physical attacks against children, such as battery or homicide, many others also have laws that specifically address child abuse.

Criminal Threats: Laws and Penalties

Making criminal threats comes with serious consequences, even if you didn't plan to carry out the threat.

Extortion: Laws, Penalties, and Sentencing

Though states provide a wide range of penalties for extortion, the crime is most often punished as a felony offense.

False Imprisonment

When someone else restrains you or prevents you from moving, this is punishable as a crime, known as false imprisonment or unlawful restraint.

Felony Assault & Battery: Laws and Penalties

Assault and battery become felony-level offenses when the risk of harm, the attempted harm, or the actual harm increases or when other aggravating circumstances exist.

Felony DUI Charges

Drunk driving is often referred to as driving under the influence of alcohol, or DUI, but can also be known as as driving while intoxicated, or DWI, or by similar terms.

Felony Theft and Larceny Laws

Learn how states define and penalize felony theft and felony larceny.

Felony Violent Crimes

When most people think about crime, it's violent crimes that quickly come to mind. You don't have to know a lot about the law to know that violent crimes are the most serious criminal offenses possible.

Grand Theft

Theft and thievery have been around for as long as mankind has believed in the idea of individual property and property rights. Today, states differentiate the various kinds of theft into different categories.

Grand Theft Auto

Grand theft auto, or stealing an automobile or other vehicle, is a felony in most states, and may be punished by imprisonment. While the laws in each state are different, there are some general principles that apply in every state.

Indecent Exposure: Laws & Penalties

Indecent exposure laws prohibit exposing private body parts in certain circumstances. Learn more about the crime here, including penalties, defenses, and common questions.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping is one of the most serious criminal offenses with which a person can be charged. It can mean serious prison time, harsh fines, and a damaging criminal record.

Marital Rape Laws

While illegal in every state, some states' marital and spousal rape laws provide loopholes or less harsh punishments than other types of rape.

Perjury: Laws and Penalties

Perjury, the crime of lying under oath, is a serious offense because it can derail the basic goal of the justice system—discovering the truth. Learn what perjury is and how it's punished.

Possession of a Controlled Substance: Drug Possession Laws

What is a controlled substance? Learn about the penalties for drug possession and the laws in your state.

Public Lewdness: Laws & Penalties

Public lewdness refers to indecent or obscene behavior in public. These laws protect society from public conduct considered immoral and inappropriate.

Resisting Arrest: Laws, Penalties, and Defenses

Resisting arrest occurs when a person interferes with a law enforcement officer’s attempt to perform a lawful arrest. Some states call the crime “obstruction.”

Sexual Assault Laws and Penalties

The term sexual assault, in layperson terms, usually refers to an attack on a person that is sexual in nature. The legal definition of this term actually differs, however, from state to state.

Sexual Battery: Laws and Penalties

Sexual battery or criminal sexual contact is sexual conduct that does not involve penetration or sodomy, but does involve physical contact of a sexual nature without the other person’s consent.

Aggravated Assault Laws and Penalties

Aggravated assault is a felony crime of violence that offense involves serious bodily harm, a weapon, or a vulnerable victim. Learn how states penalize aggravated assault.

Tampering With Evidence

Tampering with evidence is the crime of altering, destroying, or concealing physical evidence with the intent to affect the outcome of a criminal investigation or court proceeding.

Terrorist Threat Laws and Penalties

Lawmakers and courts have long recognized that some damaging or dangerous forms of speech should be prohibited. Making a terrorist threat is one such form of speech that is prohibited.

Vehicular Manslaughter: Sentencing, Laws and Penalties

Drivers who unintentionally cause accidents that result in the deaths of passengers, occupants of other cars, or pedestrians may find themselves charged with the crime of vehicular manslaughter.

Violation of a Restraining Order

Restraining order violations can carry serious repercussions, including arrest, jail holds, and a criminal conviction.