San Diego Misdemeanor Charges

A general definition of a misdemeanor charge

Criminal codes penalize a variety of activities. Generally, an offense is any violation of the California Penal Code. The Penal Code divides offenses into three major categories: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Felonies are crimes for which a person may be sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison or to death. Misdemeanors are lesser crimes for which a person may be sentenced to imprisonment in a jail. Infractions are not punished by imprisonment at all, and include such offenses as trespassing on land with a vehicle, being under 21 years of age and possessing alcohol, and disturbing the peace. Children under the age of 14 are not capable of committing crimes according to California law, unless the prosecutor presents clear proof that the child had knowledge of the wrongfulness of his or her action.

Under the Penal Code, misdemeanors range from driving on private land without the owner’s consent to fraudulently avoiding the payment of a railroad fare to paying birth parents to adopt their child. Under the law, many crimes are misdemeanors on the first offense, but become felonies on the second offense. This means that, for example, the crime of indecent exposure is a misdemeanor the first time a person is convicted. The second or subsequent offense of indecent exposure is charged as a felony. Similarly, using a telecommunication device to avoid payment of telecommunication charges is a misdemeanor for the first offense and a felony for subsequent offenses.

As mentioned, misdemeanors usually carry a maximum punishment of a fine and less than one year of incarceration. Crimes for which a person may be punished by more than one year in jail or in prison are categorized in California as felonies.