HOW IS THE SEVERITY OF A FELONY OFFENSE DETERMINED IN IOWA?
There are many different considerations that could come into play when determining the severity of any crime. For felonies, some of the most common factors include:
- The extent to which victims of the crime were harmed in the commission of the felony.
- Whether the crime was gang-related.
- The risk factor of releasing the defendant back into the general public again.
- Whether a firearm was used in the commission of the crime.
These are just some of the most common aggravating factors when it comes to felony offenses. Ultimately, the court has discretion on what they consider or don’t consider aggravating factors.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON FELONY OFFENSES?
Some of the most common offenses include:
- Gun crimes
- Sex crimes, such as rape
- Felony OWI
- Domestic assault and other violent crimes
- Certain theft crimes
HOW CAN A FELONY CRIMINAL CONVICTION IMPACT MY LIFE?
If you’ve been charged with any of the aforementioned crimes, you are most likely looking at a wide range of penalties. Unfortunately, these penalties can include years of incarceration, high fines, and more. Further, you’ll likely develop a criminal record, which will impact your life in several ways. Employers are less likely to hire convicted felons, landlords often run background checks before renting out housing, and banks are even more hesitant to issue loans to convicted felons. Additionally, if you are convicted of any OWI charge, you’ll likely lose your driver’s license for an extended period of time.
These are just some of the most significant ways in which a felony conviction can impact your life, which is why you should never proceed without a seasoned Iowa criminal defense lawyer in your corner. Herting Law is here to represent you and fight for your future, every step of the way. Give us a call today so we can get started working on your case.