A criminal charge can change the course of the rest of your life. Depending on factors like your criminal history and the offense you have been charged with, you risk facing years or decades of incarceration, thousands of dollars in criminal fines and restitution, suspension of your driver’s license, and other penalties. You will also receive a criminal record, which can make it substantially more difficult to get hired for jobs and seize other opportunities. If you have been charged with a crime in Oxnard, California, or if one of your family members has been arrested in Oxnard, it is absolutely critical that you have the benefit of aggressive legal representation. With over 20 years of experience handling wobblers, misdemeanors, and felonies, the California defense lawyers at The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC are eminently qualified to handle a range of serious criminal charges. To set up a confidential, free legal consultation, call our law offices right away at (805) 643-5555.
California Jail and Prison Sentencing for Felonies and Misdemeanors
Like most states, California classifies minor criminal offenses as misdemeanors, while very serious charges are called felonies. California also has a third type of crime known as a “wobbler,” which is simply an offense that can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the details of the situation.
While misdemeanors are of lesser severity than felonies, defendants must take all charges seriously. Even a misdemeanor can result in jail time, expensive fines, and a criminal record, as well as miscellaneous penalties such as mandatory community service, probation, or driver’s license suspension.
Under California’s sentencing laws, misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in jail. Sentences for felonies vary by crime, but may last anywhere from several years to life in prison. For example, robbery is punishable by a sentence of two, three, five, six, or nine years, depending on the circumstances under which the robbery took place. To provide another example, murder is punishable by a prison term of 15 years to life, 25 years to life, or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole (release).
The most serious crimes, such as capital murder, are currently subject to capital punishment, or the death penalty. On November 8, 2016, Californians will have an opportunity to vote on Prop 62, which would repeal the death penalty in California. Defendants who are convicted sometimes receive “suspended” sentences, which means the defendant will be placed on probation instead of incarcerated. Skillful representation can help increase your likelihood of receiving a suspended sentence rather than being sent to prison.
