Misdemeanors

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There are four classes of Virginia Misdemeanors. The most serious is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, which is punished by up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Some common examples of Class 1 Virginia Misdemeanors are DUI, Assault, Petit Larceny, and Reckless Driving.

Regardless of the offense or severity of the charge, it is still a criminal conviction that will remain on your record permanently. A criminal record can impact your security clearance, background check for employment, school applications, and a number of other every-day hassles. As soon as you are arrested or summoned on a misdemeanor charge, contact our experienced criminal defense team to discuss your options and protect your future.

Virginia Misdemeanors and their punishments:

Class 1 misdemeanor Up to 1 year in jail, and a fine of up to $2,500.00
Class 2 misdemeanor Up to 6 months in jail, and a fine of up to $1,000.00
Class 3 misdemeanor Fine up to $500
Class 4 misdemeanor Fine up to $250

Virginia Misdemeanors are typically tried in the General District Court, where you will be tried in front of a Judge. Certain offenses, such as family crimes, domestic violence, and crimes against children maybe tried in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

In General District Court, you have the opportunity to negotiate with prosecutors and reach creative solutions that best protect your interests. In the event a resolution cannot be reached before trial, our experienced criminal defense attorneys will passionately and skillfully defend you in Court.

It is important to actively defend against your Virginia Misdemeanor charges. Currently, Virginia does not allow for the expungement of most convictions or guilty pleas. This means that a Misdemeanor will stay on your record indefinitely regardless of how minor the charge may seem at the time. 

Virginia Misdemeanor time is served at 50%. Meaning, if you get 1 year in jail of misdemeanor time, you will only actively serve 6 months. This is true for all misdemeanors except those that carry mandatory minimum time. For example, if you are convicted of a DUI with an elevated BAC of .15 or above and receive the 5-day mandatory minimum sentence, you will serve all 5 days.

Common Virginia Misdemeanors and Maximum Punishment

Crime Maximum Punishment
Assault & Battery Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI) Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Drunk In Public or Public Intoxication $250 fine, permanent criminal record
Disorderly Conduct Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Destruction of Property Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Reckless Driving Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Assault on a Household Member Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Petit Larceny (Theft) Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Indecent Exposure Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Hit and Run Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Driving on a Suspended License Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Driving Without a License Up to 6 months jail, up to 90 days of license suspension, fine up to $1,000
Aggressive Driving Up to 6 months jail, up to 6 months of license suspension, fine up to $1,000
Underage Possession of Alcohol Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Carrying Weapon in Airport Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines
Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500.00 in fines

Our Criminal Defense Jurisdictions

Our Virginia criminal defense attorneys can help those accused of a misdemeanor throughout Northern Virginia including Alexandria City, Arlington County, and Fairfax County. Here is a list of additional jurisdictions in which we practice.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

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