Explaining a Misdemeanor and Why It Can Be a Big Deal

A misdemeanor is a lesser crime in the United States with less severe penalties than felonies, but more severe punishments than infractions. Generally, misdemeanors are crimes for which the maximum sentence is 12 months or less. Many states have laws that establish different levels or classifications for misdemeanors, such as Class 1, Class 2, etc. The most severe classes are those that are punishable by jail time, while the other classifications are misdemeanors for which the maximum sentence does not include incarceration. Misdemeanor sentences of incarceration are usually served in the local city or county jail, while felony sentences are served in prison. Most misdemeanor sentences, however, usually involve paying a fine and doing community service or serving probation. Except in a very few states, people convicted of misdemeanors do not lose any civil rights, as convicted felons do, but can be prohibited from getting certain jobs. Classifications Differ by State It is up to each state to determine specifically which behaviors are criminal and then classify the behavior based on a set of parameters and the severity of the crime. Examples of how states differ when determining crimes and penalties are outlined below with the marijuana and drunk driving laws in different states. Marijuana Laws There are significant differences in laws governing marijuana from one state, city or country to another and from state and federal perceptions. While Alaska, Arizona, California, and 20 other states have legalized (or decriminalized) the personal use of medical marijuana, other states including Washington, Oregon, and Colorado have legalized recreational and medical marijuana. A handful of states including Alabama (any amount is a misdemeanor) and Arkansas (less than 4 oz. is a misdemeanor) consider the possession of (specific amounts) of marijuana as a misdemeanor. Drunk Driving Laws Each state has different laws governing drunk driving (driving while intoxicated - DWI or Operating Under the Influence - OUI) including the legal limits, the number of DWI offenses, and the penalties. In most states, a person who receives their first or second DUI is charged with a misdemeanor while the third or subsequent offense is a felony. However, in some states, if there is property damage or someone is hurt, the penalty jumps to a felony. Other states, for example, Maryland, consider all DUI offenses as misdemeanors and New Jersey classifies DUIs as a violation, and not a crime. What Is the Difference Between Infractions and Misdemeanors? Sometimes people will refer to their crime as, just a misdemeanor, and while being charged with a misdemeanor is less serious than being charged with a felony, it is still a very serious charge that if found guilty, could result in jail time, heavy fines, community service, and probation. There are also legal fees that should be considered. Also, failure to follow any of the court-ordered conditions of a misdemeanor conviction will result in more misdemeanor charges and even heavier fines, possibly more jail time and extended probation and legal fees. Being charged with an infraction is a lot less serious than a misdemeanor and the penalties usually involve paying a ticket or small fine and never result in jail time unless there is a failure to pay the fine. Also, people found guilty of an infraction are not ordered to perform community service or attend problem-specific programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or anger management. Criminal Record Misdemeanor convictions appear on a persons criminal record. It also may be legally required to disclose the particularities of the crime during job interviews, on college applications, when applying for the military or government jobs, and on loan applications. Infractions may appear on a persons driving record, but not on their criminal record. Misdemeanor Penalties The penalties for a person convicted of a misdemeanor depends on several factors including the severity of the crime, if it is a first-time offense or if the person is a repeat offender and if it was a violent or non-violent offense. Depending on the crime, misdemeanor convictions will rarely result in more than one year in the city or county jail. For petty misdemeanor convictions, the jail sentence could fall between 30 to 90 days. Most misdemeanor convictions also result in a fine up to $1,000 although for repeat offenders or for violent crimes the fine can increase up to $3,000. Sometimes a judge may impose both the jail time and a fine. If the misdemeanor involved property damage or financial loss to a victim, then the judge may order restitution. The restitution can include court costs.  Also, a court may suspend the sentence and place the defendant on probation.

Randy Pauschs Last Lecture Essay - 1011 Words

Pausch’s Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams You would think a man dying of cancer would not be so happy and willing to spend the last few months of his life giving a lecture. But, Randy Pausch, who has 10 tumors in his liver, does not want people to pity him for having cancer. Rather, he wants to teach people how to follow their childhood dreams. Looking at the seven elements of communication we see how he is so effective in his last lecture. The lecture has affected me personally by letting me learn from some of Pausch’s past experiences. Pausch says, â€Å"The inspiration, and the permission to dream is huge.† This quote made me learn that people need to have the ability to think of what kind of dreams they want to inspire to†¦show more content†¦The lecture was about how he achieved all of his childhood dreams in some way. He never played professional football or grew up to be Captain Kirk, but he did play football in high school and was a ble to meet the man who played the role of Captain Kirk. His goal was not to teach us ways to achieve those dreams but it the goal was rather to teach us how to lead our lives by pursuing those dreams. The place where Pausch was giving his lecture was in a lecture hall at Carnegie Mellon. He was giving the speech to many people that he knew but also many others that he did not know. He was in front of a crowd of many people and in a perfect context for his last lecture. You also feel as if he is actually just speaking to you throughout the whole lecture. The message of the lecture was to teach other people what he had gone through so that they can learn from his past experiences. He gives us many lessons we can use in our lives. One specific example Pausch says is, â€Å"When you’re screwing up and nobody’s saying anything to you anymore that means they gave up.† The example he gave was when his football coach was riding him the entire practice. Whenever he did the slightest thing wrong his coach would jump on him and say you’re doing that wrong, you owe me pushups. I have had this happen to me in live when I used to play baseball and looking back on it now I see why my coaches did that. It was because they cared. When you areShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis of Randy Pauschs Last Lecture Essay1662 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Ã¢â‚¬Å"Hypothetically, if you knew you were going to die and you had one last lecture, what would you say to your students?† That is how Professor Randy Pausch, from Carnegie Mellon, began his last lecture, a speech entitled â€Å"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams† while in fact he was dying of Pancreatic Cancer. He knew he only had months left to live and put together this last lecture to read to his students. His lecture focuses in on points such as the importance of: making sincere apologies, not whiningRead MoreThe s Virtual Reality Research1686 Words   |  7 PagesRandy Pausch was bor n on the 23rd of October in 1960 in Baltimore Maryland. He was fortunate to have a great set of parents and a happy childhood.4 He attended grade school in Columbia, Maryland, and then received a Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1998 Pausch also received a Ph.D. computer science degree from Carnegie University. He made a career out of teaching as an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Virginia, then

The Mockingbirds in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

The significance of the store To Kill a Mockingbird is the expression mocking bird appears in the story lots of times. Also the most significant novel in this whole book is the mockingbird symbol. Another significant part of the story is the definition of a mockingbird and it is a type of Finch, it’s also a small bird who likes to sing. It got the name mockingbird because when it sings it is mocking other birds. (http://www.allfreeessays.com/essays/The-Significance-Of-The-Title-Of/21174.html) The mockingbirds in the story were Tom Robinson, Calpurnia, and Boo Radley. Boo Radley was a man who was very nice and loving to others especially the Scout and Jem. One of the nicest things Boo Radley did was when Scout, Jem, and Dill were†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"But they also heard rumors that Boo Radley only comes out at night not during the day.† Scout and Jem start thinking that Boo Radley is a scary man or he is evil. The first time that Scout and Jem saw B oo Radley face, was when he saved them from Bob Ewell. Ever since Boo Radley saved them Jem and Scout stop believing all the rumors they heard about Boo Radley. Boo Radley can be compared to a mocking bird because mockingbirds are calm and don’t hurt others. That’s why Boo Radley is considered a mockingbird because he never hurt any known or bothered any known. The sad part was that Boo Radley was killed by couple of town’s people because he never came out because he was shy. (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081010185527AAZEssX) Another mockingbird in the story was Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was just like Boo Radley nice and loving to others especially Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson was very kind to Mayella he always did we she wanted him to do and he always did it with pride. When Bob Ewell accused Tom Robinson of raping Mayella it was like a mockingbird that just stops singing or died because Tom Robinson would never rape Mayella. Bob Ewell said that Tom Robinson was kissing and touching Mayella. Mr. Ewell thinks now that Tom Robinson is an animal who was taking advantage of his daughter. Tom Robinson is a man who helped Mayella Ewell everyday when he would walk by her house, sheShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird1210 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom who and what surrounds us, things that help to form our identity. Prejudice is an integral theme in Harper Lee’s, To Kill A Mockingbird. Prejudice is evident throughout the novel, not just in the appalling racism but also through, prejudice against different sexual orientations, gender constructs and feminism. Society had certain constructs that had to be met. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee breaks the bounds to overcome barriers, and challenge social constructs. This feature article delvesRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay567 Words   |  3 Pagesexample in Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird, the small town of Maycomb struggles with these aspects. Each character of the novel has a strong personality. Scout Finch is tough, always has an opinion, and is a tomboy. On the other hand Boo Radley stays hidden most of the time, but we all know he is actually a friend to Jem and Scout. Then there is Tom Robinson, a hardworking, strong, and innocent man. But what do all these characters have in common? They can all be analyzed as mockingbirds. ThroughoutRead More Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay1367 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird In the early twentieth century, the United States was undergoing a dramatic social change. Slavery had been abolished decades before, but the southern states were still attempting to restrict social interaction among people of different races. In particular, blacks were subject to special Jim Crow laws which restricted their rights and attempted to keep the race inferior to whites. Even beyond these laws, however, blacks were feeling the pressure of prejudiceRead More Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird Essay1391 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird In the novel by Harper Lee named, To Kill a Mockingbird, there is one main tragic event that occurs. The feelings and expressions dealt with in the novel are seen through the eyes of the main character, named Scout. In the novel Tom Robinson is a black male accused of rape in Maycomb County. During the same time period as the novel there were many historical events that were almost identical in setting and conclusion. There were many things that happenedRead MoreEssay on Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird1054 Words   |  5 PagesHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Courage is the quality of mind that enables one to face danger with confidence, resolution, and gain a firm control of oneself. Many of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird showed courage in their own way. Courage can come in many different forms: physical, mental, emotional and moral. Courage is not the only main theme displayed in To Kill a Mockingbird; prejudice and education are also very important themes exhibited throughout the progression of theRead More Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird The United States has been dealing with the issue of racism ever since Columbus landed on Plymouth Rock. The Indians were the first to endure harsh racism in this country. Pilgrims moving west ran them off their land wiping out many tribes and destroying many resources in their path. However, when many think of racism today, the issue of blacks and whites is the first to come to mind. African Americans have come a long way in today’s society as comparedRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird816 Words   |  3 PagesThe novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee focuses on many themes but courage is mostly shown in the novel. In the novel, there are many examples where the characters have shown courage even when he/she knows that he/she is going to lose it. Atticus Finch is a great example of showing courage in the novel. He shows great courage because he defends a black man even though he knows he is going to lose the case. Another example of showing courage is Mrs. Du bose. She shows courage because she wantsRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay1073 Words   |  5 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee is novel set in a three year period through the ‘great depression’. Atticus Finch (Jem and scouts father) is originally portrayed as a friendly and understanding person, though when he attends court defending a ‘black man’ as his job, suddenly he and his family begin to suffer racial hatred from their community. The story features on the themes of racism, community morals and the realisation of certain truths whilst growing up. It is a fascinating novelRead MoreEssay on Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird2478 Words   |  10 PagesHarper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird During the 1930s, during the time when the novel was set, society was very different to what it is now. To Kill a Mockingbird is Harper Lees story about life in a small town in Southern America during the 1930s. The story is based in the state of Texas, Alabama, in this state slavery was very common and because of this it became to be known as the Slave State. The story involves Atticus Finch a lawyer who must defendRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay3848 Words   |  16 PagesHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird The story of To Kill a Mockingbird takes place during the 1930s in a small town in Alabama in the southern United States - much like the town where the author Harper Lee herself grew up. To understand what the book is saying about racism, you need to know something of the history of race relations in the southern USA. Plot ---- The novel is about three years in the life of the Finch family: Atticus and his son Jem

Jordan Baker in Great Gatsby free essay sample

During the Roaring Twenties, the role of women in society took on new forms and pushed unprecedented boundaries. Women were more independent as well as promiscuous. Jordan Baker’s maleness in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby depicts the changing woman in the 1920’s. Fitzgerald blends the strong individualistic woman of the twenties with her feminine counterpart through his character, Jordan Baker. Jordan, an unmarried professional golf player, is assertively independent and seems rather masculine in contrast to Daisy Buchanan, her â€Å"girlie,† character foil. As the novel continues, Jordan’s â€Å"maleness† fuses with the conventional womanly characteristics of her time. The first time Nick meets Jordan, she sits â€Å"completely motionless with her chin raised a little. † (p. 8) She is not at all fazed by Nick’s presence. She remains solely interested in golf and does not participate in the other conversations around her. The male-like behavior in this scene contrasts with Daisy’s lively, energetic, and stereotypically feminine manner. We will write a custom essay sample on Jordan Baker in Great Gatsby or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Nick notes, â€Å"Daisy’s murmur was only to make people lean toward her. This seductive feminine quality contrasts to Jordan’s more masculine refrain, when Nick observes that Tom and Jordan have several feet of twilight between them. The first references to Jordan in this chapter juxtapose Daisy’s feminine etiquette with Jordan’s masculinity that continues throughout the novel. Later in this chapter, Nick describes Jordan as â€Å"A slender small breasted girl, with an erect carriage, which she accentuated by throwing her body backward at the shoulders like a young cadet. † This manly physical description highlights Jordan’s confidence and independence. She is not dependent upon the will of another. Later, Daisy â€Å"turned to Miss Baker for confirmation† (14). Daisy needs a male figure to validate her while Jordan makes her own decisions. Daisy later reads to Tom from The Saturday Evening Post. This gender role reversal again highlights Jordan’s independence and maleness. While at the Buchanan household, Nick notes Jordan’s â€Å"hardy skepticism† (page 15), which again contrasts to Daisy’s stereotypical femininity and optimistic outlook. Daisy believes only what she is told to believe and never questions it. When asking Nick about a rumor that he was engaged, she states, â€Å"We heard it from three people, so it must be true† (19). Unlike Daisy, Jordan is skeptical of others and assesses matters for herself. Nick becomes infatuated with Jordan’s maleness. Even though she cheated in the golf game that got her famous, Nick becomes involved in a world of materialism and superficiality, sparking his interest in Jordan. Nick notices that â€Å"She wore her evening dress, all her dresses, like sports clothes. † (Page 50) He accounts the â€Å"faint mustache of perspiration that appeared on her upper lip,† when she plays tennis. p. 57) Nick is flattered to go places with her because she is a golf champion and everyone knows her name. (Page 57) This again highlights the gender role reversal. Traditionally in the 1920’s, women clung to men whom were rich and high in status, as Daisy does with both Gatsby and Tom. Nick’s interest in Jordan is based on her strong man-like independence and success. This is one of the last points in which Jordan is seen as the independent manly character. As the novel progresses, Jordan morphs into a Daisy type of woman. On page 117, Daisy’s child Pammy takes note that â€Å"Aunt Jordan’s got on a white dress too,† marking Jordan’s gradual transition into femininity. On page 118 Daisy complains of the heat. This is a direct comparison to Jordan when she complains that she does not â€Å"want to get stalled in this baking heat. † (page 122) Throughout the rest of the novel, Jordan takes on stereotypical female qualities of her time. With this newfound feminism, Jordan grows increasingly dependent on Nick. She frequently asks to meet up with him and shows displays more affection towards him. When Jordan asks Nick to come inside, she puts her hand on his arm. Nick ultimately becomes sick of Jordan. Though he was once attracted to her masculinity and independence, Nick loses interest in Jordan once these qualities begin to disappear and the traditional gender roles reappear. Jordan symbolizes the confidence and independence ingrained in the â€Å"New Woman† of the 1920’s. Daisy on the other hand represents the promiscuity and wildness of women during the Roaring Twenties. Jordan’s shift from confident masculine independent towards feminine companion shows the fusion of both roles of women during this time period.