what is a felony charge

A felony charge is a criminal offense that is considered to be of high seriousness, and is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year in the United States. Felonies are the most serious crimes, and are distinguished from misdemeanors, which are less serious offenses. The severity of the punishment for a felony charge depends on the crime and its circumstances, and can include long prison sentences, fines, and other penalties. Examples of felony crimes include murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, grand theft, and tax evasion. In the United States, it is up to individual states to classify and define most crimes as well as their punishments, and classification can vary drastically between states.