When people think of crime, it’s common to think of the more serious felonies, but misdemeanors are also crimes. While one commonality between the two types of crimes is that posting bail is necessary after an arrest, a misdemeanor differs in some significant ways. The overview below defines what a misdemeanor is and what punishments a conviction can carry.

What Is a Misdemeanor?

A misdemeanor is a crime that’s more serious than an infraction, but below a felony crime. Typically, these are nonviolent crimes that result in only minimal damages that can be repaid through restitution fairly quickly. Posting bail is usually more manageable as well, because bail amounts are comparatively low, ranging between several hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars. 

While a misdemeanor hearing is presented to a judge, your attorney can request a jury trial. This can be beneficial, depending on the facts of your case. Each state has its own laws that define which crimes are misdemeanors, but some crimes fall into this category in every state. DUI, property theft, illegal weapons possession, and violating a restraining order are a few examples of common misdemeanors.

What Are the Penalties for Committing a Misdemeanor? 

It’s important to understand the consequences of a misdemeanor conviction, because, although they are less serious than felonies, they do carry some penalties that can adversely affect your life. Just as with a felony, posting pail is important, because it provides you an opportunity to hire an attorney and build a strong defense.

Beyond completing your punishment, a misdemeanor conviction will stay on your record and show up in any background check. It can also count against you if you’re convicted of another crime in the future. Judges may take your past criminal history into account when deciding on a punishment. You may be expected to pay a fine of between $300 to $1,000 for most Georgia misdemeanor crimes. This fine is in addition to any restitution the judge will order you to pay to the victims of your crime.

There are three classifications of misdemeanors that can affect how long you will spend in a county jail after your conviction. While you can pay bail before your hearing to gain your release, a bondsman can’t help you avoid serving your time in jail after your conviction. 

What Are Different Misdemeanors?

A Class A misdemeanor can lead to six months up to 12 months in jail. A Class B misdemeanor is 30 days up to six months of imprisonment. A Class C misdemeanor is lower, and usually entails a minimum of five days in county jail or up to 30 days.

Everybody makes mistakes from time to time. However, when a mistake results in a misdemeanor charge, you may need help posting bail. Godfrey Bonding is located in Canton, GA, and they provide 24-hour service throughout Cherokee County. This means you can obtain your release as early as possible, whether you’re facing felony or misdemeanor charges. To view the full range of bonding services they offer, visit their website. To speak with a bail bondsman, call (770) 479-5230.