Categories and punishment of felonies

Las Vegas Defense Lawyers Explain Felonies

Felony offenses are the most serious crimes a defendant could commit in the state of Nevada. A felony conviction can usually carry a long jail sentence and can come with other far-reaching consequences related to your rights as a citizen. Your right to vote or to posses firearms, for example, will usually be curtailed after a felony conviction. You may also find that your reputation as a felon makes life more difficult as employers may be reluctant to hire you and landlords may be reluctant to rent to you.

LV Criminal Defense can help you to understand the types of offenses considered to be felonies in the state of Nevada. We can also explain to you the state laws on different categories of felonies and the different punishments you could face for each category, as not every felony is considered to be the same in the eyes of the law.

You should reach out to our legal team as soon as you can following your arrest for a felony offense so we can advise you on the potential implications of your case and so we can help you to begin preparing an appropriate legal strategy.

Nevada criminal lawyers can offer invaluable assistance with both fighting felony charges and with negotiating plea agreements that, in some cases, could result in your charges being reduced to a lesser offense if you admit to breaking the law. We will help you to determine which course of action is best and will be there for you as you carry it through. To find out more about the many services our legal team can provide to you when you have been accused of a felony offense, give us a call today.

Categories of Felonies and Punishment of Felonies in Nevada

There are different categories of felonies, with certain felony offenses carrying more serious penalties than others. N.R.S. 193.130 explains the different categories of felonies and the punishments for each.

According to N.R.S. 193.130, the penalties for a person convicted of a felony will generally be defined within the statute that outlined the crime for which the defendant was convicted. In other words, if the defendant is convicted of murder, the murder statute would define the consequences associated with the conviction.

However, there are numerous exceptions. One such exception is when the statute has changed since the felony was committed. In these circumstances, the applicable penalty would be the one in effect when the crime was committed. Other exceptions include when a category A felony was committed or when the statute did not specify a penalty.

The categories of felonies in Nevada are determined based on the possible penalties associated with the offense. A category A felony, for example, is one for which a defendant could be sentenced to death or to life in prison with or without the possibility of parole. A category B felony is one in which the defendant faces a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. A category C felony is one for which a defendant faces between one and five years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000. A category D felony carries a period of imprisonment of one to four years and a maximum fine of $5,000 and a category E felony carries a potential sentence of one to four years, but which allows a suspended sentence.