Felonies are punishable by incarceration in state prison or death in Virginia. Less serious crimes like misdemeanor offenses are punishable by 12 months in prison max. For more info on misdemeanor offense and crimes in Virginia, see Virginia Misdemeanor Crimes by the class and the sentences. In Virginia, felonies are designated from class 1 to class 6 (class 1 being the most serious whereas class 6 being the least serious) but lawmakers may also set detailed terms for certain crimes and offenses. (Va. Ann. Code § § 18.2-8, 18.2-9.)
A Class 4 felony offense is a relatively minor felony compared to the class 1, 2, and 3 felony. Most of the states classify felonies by different classes. Like, a Class 1 felony is the most severe type of felony. Class 1 felonies carry sheer penalties, such as lengthy lockup terms and excessive fines. A Class 4 felony is the lowest ranked felony group in severe penalties. While a Class 4 felony is a severe offense, it is not as severe as a Class 1 or 2 felony offense. Not every state has Class 4 felonies. Some states, like California, organize offenses by the type of different crimes. Other states classify crimes using an alphabetical systems like A, B, or C.
In all of the states, which numerically categorize the felonies, the state criminal code will label exactly which crimes fit into every classification. All crimes for each classification have the same maximum and minimum potential sentences. For example, all Class 4 felonies may face a maximum of ten years’ incarceration and a minimum of 2 years’ incarceration, along with a potential maximum $10,000 fine. Remember that the exact penalties will differ between states.
Consequences of a Felony Conviction
In Virginia, a conviction of a felony crime has penalties outside of a fine and jail time. If you are convicted of a violent felony offense, you can lose your right to vote for the rest of your life. If, however, it is a non-violent felony offense, such as possession of any drug, or etc. then you may file a petition in the court to have your right to vote reinstalled once you’ve served your prison sentence, parole, probation, and pay restitution and all fines, which may take some time. Moreover, several other rights enjoyed by a variety of individuals are at risk if you are charged with a felony offense including owning a weapon, enlistment in the armed service, serving on a Grand Jury, or running for state office.
Facing a felony charge is scary. There are a lot of uncertainties when you are charged and you often do not know where to turn. Law Office Sirs P.C is here to help. We work on many different criminal matters and can help in many different circumstances. We are committed to advocating aggressively for all of our clients at every stage of the process. Contact our team today to see how we can help.