Difference Between Felony and Misdemeanor
Misdemeanor and felony are two legal terms that are very different from each other. Misdemeanor is a crime that is measured by the maximum time that a person may be imprisoned. In contrast, felony is a crime punishable for term of more than a year.
Crimes punishable by longer periods are felonies and misdemeanors are crimes where the accused is not punished for a very long term. Felony is therefore, a more serious crime compared to misdemeanor.
Any crime can be a felony or misdemeanor depending on the seriousness. A robbery can be felony or misdemeanor depending on the amount of money lost. In the US, if a person loses property or goods worth $500, then this crime would be termed misdemeanor.
On the other hand, if the loss is worth more than $ 5,000, then the crime committed can be termed felony. It is a more serious offence. Therefore, the punishment is also more. This is the real difference between the two terms.
In the US, a person has to be very careful and must avoid committing any of these crimes. This is because, if someone has committed a crime and if he is found guilty, then the crime is recorded. Then the person will have a permanent mark against him, and will find it very difficult to get a job.
The same is true for felony. In fact, the social impact of felony is greater, as it is a more serious crime. Any adult will face difficulties in getting a respectable job if he has a record.
It is the responsibility of companies and organizations to look into the personal records of the candidates before finalizing their appointment. If the candidates have a criminal record, then they consider it best to avoid that candidate. As these crimes are properly recorded, the companies do not have any trouble in identifying such applicants.