Glossary
Published on Thursday, May 21st, 2009
misdemeanor
The difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is not always clear-cut from state to state in the US, or in other countries. In general, it is fair to say that a misdemeanor can be defined by the maximum length of time a person can be incarcerated for the crime, usually no more than one year. Crimes with a minimum jail time of over a year are usually felonies. In Ohio a misdemeanor of the first degree, that is M1, only carries a jail time up to 6-months.
