There are two divisions of misdemeanors in Georgia, either a misdemeanor offense or a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature offense. The main difference between a misdemeanor and felony offense is that a felony results in more than one year in prison while misdemeanors can result in up to one year in county jail. The potential penalties for a misdemeanor offense in Georgia include:

• Up to $1,000 in fines

• A county jail sentence of up to one year

• A state diversion center sentence for up to one year

On top of these criminal penalties, other consequences can include community service, loss of driving privileges, loss of a right to possess a firearm and more.

Offenses that are often charged as a misdemeanor offense include simple battery, minor drug offenses, first DUI offenses and shoplifting of less than $300 worth of property.

The penalties for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature can differ in some ways. The potential jail time of up to one year remains the same but the regulations for ‘good time credit’ is different. You can only receive four days of good time credit per month, so for a month of 45 days you would need to serve 26 days. The fines for this type of offense can also be increased to up to $5,000 rather than up to $1,000. Misdemeanors that fall into this category include repeated or more severe misdemeanor violations. An example of this offense would include simple assault against a family member or an elderly person. If you have been charged or arrested for a misdemeanor offense you need to obtain representation. While one misdemeanor offense may seem minor to you, it affects your record and can play a role if you are ever arrested in the future. Contact Blevins & Hong, P.C. to have an aggressive criminal defense lawyer in Marietta by your side