Washington County

Maryland crimes are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies, but the distinction between the two is sometimes difficult to ascertain. Felony offenses and violent crimes against another person, such as aggravated assault, certain sex crimes, and various degrees of murder, are deemed to be more serious in nature and thus deserving of more serious penalties. Lesser crimes, such as drunk driving or petty theft of small value, often have a smaller impact. These are classified as less severe offenses and incur lesser penalties. Somewhere in between these extremes, however, the line between more grievous misdemeanors and less serious felonies begins to blur.

One definition states that a felony is a crime that typically involves violence, including guns, which is regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and is usually punishable by imprisonment for more than 12 months or by death. Many states define misdemeanors as a non-indictable offense and less serious than a felony, and the maximum term of incarceration is 12 months. Maryland differs in this aspect, as state law allows for much harsher jail times, sending those convicted of a misdemeanor behind bars for up to 10 years.

Rather than classifying misdemeanors based on a scale, as many states do, or classifying them simply by the length of the associated jail or prison term, Maryland addresses each offense individually, calling out its specific punishment. When charged with a crime in Maryland, the best way to know the gravity of the charge is to contact professional legal counsel and allow them to use their vast knowledge of the state’s criminal code to determine the classification and associated penalties for a particular offense.