A misdemeanor offense is a crime punishable by no more than one year in a local county jail or one year probation or a $1,000.00 fine. Misdemeanor offenses are handled by the county court and are usually considered less serious crimes than felony offenses.
Some examples of common misdemeanors are disorderly conduct, disorderly intoxication, battery, prostitution and petty theft.
While being convicted of a misdemeanor will not result in the loss of any of your civil rights, there is the possibility of jail. First offenders only occasionally go to jail for the commission of a misdemeanor. However, it is very common that first offenders will be formally adjudicated or convicted of the crime.
Many people who are facing misdemeanor offenses are the type of people who rarely get in trouble and for whom the thought of being arrested and having a criminal record is both embarrassing and disturbing. It is sometimes possible to have your arrest record wiped clean at a later date through either the sealing or expunging of your record. However, you must qualify for this later action and the manner in which your case is handled may affect your eligibility for future erasure of your record. You may wish to listen to the section on this page relating to sealing of your record or expunging of your record after hearing this message.
While you may feel that going before a County Judge on a misdemeanor will only result in a small fine or a slap on your wrist, you do need to keep in mind that a criminal record is a criminal record and there is a possibility that your life will be impacted by probation, community service or even jail time. As such, it is a wise move to discuss the matter with an experienced attorney.
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Chartered Law Offices of
Troum & Wallsh
2699 Lee Rd., Suite 505
Winter Park, Florida 32789
Ph: (866) 433-1087
Fx: (407) 644-5511