Missouri classifies its felonies into different categories that have
different penalties depending on the type of charge. Each charge is set
at a specific penalty but can escalate to another if more than one
charge is filed. Misdemeanors are also broken into classes but have
less severe penalties than felonies. A Class
A Felony tops the list of the felonies. It has a maximum penalty
of death with other penalties of life in prison and imprisonment of ten
to thirty years. Class A Felonies can include second degree murder,
first degree robbery, and others.
Class B Felonies carry maximum
punishments of imprisonment anywhere from five to fifteen years in a
state penitentiary. This class of felonies can include second degree
robbery, voluntary manslaughter, first degree burglary, and others.
Class C Felonies include
involuntary manslaughter, second degree assault, stealing items
totaling between five hundred and twenty-five hundred dollars, and
others. Class C Felonies can carry maximum prison sentences up to seven
years with or without a fine of five thousand dollars. The last of the
felony classes is that of Class D Felonies. This class of felonies is
punishable by a maximum penalty of imprisonment up to four years with
or without a fine of five thousand dollars. If the offender made
significant material gain in this crime, the punishment can be twice
the amount of the gain, which cannot exceed twenty thousand dollars.
Class D Felonies can include fraud, bad checks, other forms of fraud,
and others.
Missouri Misdemeanors Missouri
Misdemeanors are less severe than felonies and have less severe
penalties. Class A Misdemeanors can have penalties up to one year in a
county jail facility with or without a fine up to one thousand dollars.
Class B Misdemeanors can have penalties between to thirty days in jail
or up to six months in jail with or without a fine up to five hundred
dollars. Class C Misdemeanors can carry penalties up to fifteen days in
jail with or without a fine of up to three hundred dollars. Infractions
receive no jail sentences and can have fines up to two hundred dollars.
Missouri Expungement
Permanent stains on an individual's records can be the result of a past
conviction of a criminal charge. These can have negative affects in
life including background checks for employment clearance, housing, and
licensing purposes. Expungement can help those deserving individuals
have a better future. Expungement can erase a criminal record and make
the offense as if it never took place. Legal status can be restored in
the case of minor in possession convictions.
The expungement and sealing of records is different. Expungement means
that a criminal record is completely destroyed from public and private
viewing and makes a crime nonexistent. Sealing is the closing of a
court file to be hidden from public viewing. In Missouri the sealing
and expungement of records is basically the same procedure. An
individual must petition the court for an expungement and must be found
worthy. Violent offenses and most felonies are not eligible for
expungement.