Types of Offenses

Hi, I’m Steve Higgins, a criminal defense attorney here in Hillsborough County located in Tampa. I want to talk to you today about the different classifications of crimes or offenses. There is two broad categories, that being misdemeanor and felony. And then with each one of those, they are broken down even further.

With respect to a misdemeanor offense, there is second degree misdemeanor offense, and then a first degree misdemeanor. A second degree misdemeanor carries upward of 60 days in the county jail, and a first degree misdemeanor carries upwards of a year.

On the other side of the board, there’s felony offenses. There’s three classifications, or three grades of felony offenses. The first being a third degree felony, a second degree felony and then a first degree felony. The felony’s carry upwards of five years in Florida State Prison for a third degree felony, 15 years in the Florida State Prison for a second degree felony, and, of course, a first degree felony is punishable by upwards of life.

I strongly advise you to the extent you’ve been charged with any of the offenses, whether it be a misdemeanor offense or a felony offense, give us a call. The phone number is 813-649-8690. Give us a call so that we can evaluate the best way to defend you on any one of these charges that, uh, that you’re currently facing.