Felony v. Misdemeanor Crimes in Arizona

In Arizona, felony crimes are those determined to be punishable by a term of one year or more in the Arizona Department of Corrections. Misdemeanors, of which there are three classifications, are punishable by a maximum of up to six months in a local or county jail. With respect to felonies in Arizona, there are six classifications of felony that an individual can be charged with. Petty drug crimes such as Possession of Marijuana, for example, are charged as Class 6 felonies by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office while serious crimes such as murder are categorized as Class 1 felonies. Generally speaking, if you are charged with a felony offense, the prosecuting agency you will be dealing with will be your local county attorney’s office and you will attend court at a superior court such as the Maricopa County Superior Court. Alternatively, if you are charged with a misdemeanor, you will probably be dealing with a city or town attorney and your hearings will be held in municipal court. If you have questions about the nature of your charges and the level of offense and penalties ascribed thereto, please feel free to call the attorneys at Michael P. Denea, PLC to schedule a consultation.