A felony is the most serious category of crime in California, punishable by imprisonment in state prison for more than one year. Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors and can carry lifelong consequences beyond prison time.
Examples of Felonies in California
Murder (PC 187), rape, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and many drug offenses involving large quantities are all felonies. Some offenses — known as wobblers — can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the circumstances and the defendant’s criminal history.
Consequences of a Felony Conviction
Beyond imprisonment, a felony conviction can result in loss of the right to vote, loss of the right to own or possess firearms, deportation for non-citizens, ineligibility for certain professional licenses, difficulty finding employment or housing, and mandatory sex offender registration if the crime was sex-related.
California’s Three Strikes Law
Under California’s Three Strikes law, defendants with two prior serious or violent felony convictions face a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life upon conviction of a third felony. This makes it especially critical to fight felony charges aggressively from the start.
Facing charges related to this?
Free, confidential consultation — available 24/7.
