The California Penal Code classifies a felony as the most serious crime, with some felonies graded as “violent” or “serious,” and some, such as murder and rape, graded as both. Felonies not classified as violent or serious include grand theft and possession of illegal drugs. Felony convictions result in incarceration for at least one year, usually in a prison facility rather than a county or local jail.

After release, felony offenders are supervised by either state parole agents or county probation officers, depending on the severity of the conviction. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes, such as petty theft and public drunkenness, that usually result in fines, community supervision, and/or incarceration for less than one year in a county or local jail rather than a prison facility. Some crimes, called “wobblers,” such as check forgery, can be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors, depending on the offender’s history and the details of the crime.