What are the Different Types of Criminal Offenses in Virginia

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Different types of criminal offenses

There are three major types of criminal offenses in Virginia include:

  • Infractions,
  • Misdemeanors

Infractions:

This types of charges are not considered as a criminal offense in Virginia, even though, these charges might be related to the traffic issues. However, the offenses in this type are like someone can be caught driving without having a license, or being charged with the traffic breaking laws, or can be charged with an over speeding into the public zones, or ignoring parking zones, or even parking a vehicle in a no parking zone, or something like these.

In claims of infractions, defendants normally do not have the power to a jury hearing. In Virginia, you do yet have a right to a normal trial, where the judiciary will listen to your case and decide the result.

Misdemeanor:

Misdemeanors are also serious than narrow crimes but are also less severe as compared to a felony. Virginia defines a penalty in such cases where the offender or defendant may go through punishments like a short time in jail instead of long-term imprisonment. However, in misdemeanor, the crimes are involved such as assault with fewer injuries, prostitution, demolition, petty theft, a first perform offense DUI, domestic violence and even the marijuana possession can all give you a charged as a misdemeanor.

Though this type is also defined as a class 1, 2, 3, and 4 include:

  1. Class 1 – Custody in jail for a peak of up to twelve months along with a fine of up to $2,500, or sometimes both.
  2. Class 2 – Custody in jail for a maximum time period of six months along with a fine of more than $1,000, or sometimes both.
  3. Class 3 – A penalty of $500 not more than that.
  4. Class 4 – A penalty of $250 not more than.

Felony:

Felonies are considered a serious crime which can involve everything like murder, rape, assault, or physical abuse. However, a felony is divided into a category of six felonies with their own penalties.

  1. Class 1 – This is the most difficult class where the offender may get life imprisonment along with a fine of up to $100,000.
  2. Class 2 – This is punishable for up to imprisonment for 20 years with a fine of $100,000.
  3. Class 3 – Imprisonment for up to five to 20 years with a fine of $100,000.
  4. Class 4 – Imprisonment for up to two to 10 years with a fine of $100,000.
  5. Class 5 – This is also classified sometimes as a misdemeanor in where the offender may go through imprisonment for up to 12 months with a fine of $2,500.
  6. Class 6 – This can be punishable for one to 5 years with a fine of $100,000.

However, in Virginia, the felony class cases are the most dangerous and life-threatening charges in where the defendant experience life imprisonment.