Does a Misdemeanor Come with a Jail Penalty?

Tennessee law divides criminal offenses into two categories: misdemeanors and felonies. While a misdemeanor is viewed as a lesser offense than a felony, it is still very seriously punished. Harsh penalties, such as possible jail time, are typically imposed. Follow along to find out whether a misdemeanor comes with a jail penalty and how one of the proficient Montgomery County criminal defense lawyers at Fendley and Etson can help you legally get out of this.

Does a misdemeanor come with a jail penalty in Tennessee?

You may be disappointed when hearing that a jail sentence is very much possible depending on the class of misdemeanor you are found guilty of in the state of Tennessee.

For one, a Class A misdemeanor is considered the most serious offense, with common examples being simple assault, stalking, and theft of goods valued at less than $1,000. The second most serious offense is a Class B misdemeanor, such as reckless driving, indecent exposure, and trespassing. Lastly, a Class C misdemeanor is a low-level offense, like driving on a suspended license, disorderly conduct, and littering.

More specifically, you may anticipate the following penalties:

• For a Class A misdemeanor: you may be sentenced to jail time of up to 11 months and 29 days.
• For a Class B misdemeanor: you may be sentenced to jail time of up to six months.
• For a Class C misdemeanor: you may be sentenced to jail time of up to 30 days.

What are the other misdemeanor penalties in Tennessee?

In addition to being sentenced to jail time, you may be ordered to pay a hefty fine after your misdemeanor offense. This fine may be up to $50, $500, or $2,500 for a Class C misdemeanor, Class B misdemeanor, or Class A misdemeanor, respectively.

This is not to mention the restitution you may be obligated to pay to compensate a victim and their family in the aftermath of your committed offense. Then, you may even get your driver’s license suspended, depending on the offense you were found guilty of (i.e., driving on a suspended license, driving under the influence, speeding, etc).

Ultimately, your misdemeanor may land on your permanent criminal record. The long-term consequences of having a record include the following:

• You may find it difficult to secure future employment opportunities.
• You may find it difficult to get into certain educational institutions.
• You may find it difficult to obtain certain professional licenses.
• You may find it difficult to receive a mortgage loan approval.
• You may find it difficult to be an approved tenant of a rental.
• You may find it difficult to be granted child custody rights.

We strongly encourage you to retain the services of one of the talented Montgomery County criminal defense lawyers. You may do so by scheduling an initial consultation with Fendley and Etson today.