Felonies

A Felony is usually defined as a "very serious" crime, a misdemeanor is considered to be less serious. Aggravated assault, arson, burglary, murder, and rape are considered to be felonies.

A felony usually carries a penalty of more than one year in prison. When someone commits a felony for the first time, it is also called the arraignment. Usually after a not guilty plea, the case is set for a preliminary hearing that takes place in front of a judge, where a grand jury panel listens to the testimony of witnesses and determines whether there is sufficient evidence to make the defendant stand trial. The case may be dismissed if the burden of proof is less than sufficient for the trial. An individual convicted of a felony will usually have more restrictions on their rights than a person convicted of a misdemeanor. In many jurisdictions people convicted of a felony cannot serve on juries, and there are a number of other restrictions for such people.

The Law Offices of Goldstein & Handwerker, LLP guides a criminal case to the end, from pre-charging investigations to expungement as they have expertise in felonies.