What Are the Differences between a Misdemeanor Charge and a Felony Charge?

Interviewer: Could you explain the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?

Jack O’Donnell:  A misdemeanor offense has a penalty of one year or less incarceration; a felony offense has a penalty of more than a year of potential jail time.

Interviewer: What are the levels of misdemeanor and felony?

Jack O’Donnell: In Connecticut it’s A, B, C, or D felony; A, B, or C misdemeanors.  Make sure I got that right.  Is there an A felony anymore?  I don’t know, don’t put that in there.

Is a Drug-Related Offense a Felony or a Misdemeanor?

Interviewer:  At what point does a drug offense become a felony?  Can you give us an example how it could be a misdemeanor and how it could be a felony?

Marijuana Possession of Less than 4 Ounces Is a Misdemeanor; Possession with Intent to Sell Is a Felony  

Jack O’Donnell: Possession of marijuana less than 4 ounces is a misdemeanor. But narcotics charges are always a felony.  Possession with intent to sell anything is a felony.  Sale of any illegal or controlled substance is a felony.

Interviewer:  What about if you have prescription medications that weren’t legally prescribed to you?

Jack O’Donnell: That’s a felony if you have prescription medication that’s not in its proper container; I don’t remember if that’s a misdemeanor or a felony.

Robbery, Burglary and Some Larceny Charges are Felonies

Interviewer: Are there any sort of robberies or burglaries that would constitute misdemeanor or could you reduce those to misdemeanor level?

Jack O’Donnell:  No, all these are felonies.

Interviewer: What about Larceny?

Jack O’Donnell: Larceny 1, 2, and 3 are felonies; 4, 5, and 6 are misdemeanors.

Interviewer: Okay.  What sort of economic crimes would be misdemeanors, if you can give us an example of misdemeanors and felonies for those?

Jack O’Donnell:  Some of the forgeries – it’s just too hard for me to.  If I had a chart in front of me, I could tell you but I don’t have that confined to memory.