Felony Offenses are California’s most serious offenses. A conviction carries a possibility of a year or more in prison, and sometimes life in prison. Other penalties include fines, victim restitution, court-ordered rehabilitation and Criminal Offender Registration (ie Arsonist, Narcotics Offender and/or Sex Offender registration).
Court proceedings start when either a San Diego Grand Jury Issues An Indictment, or, more commonly, the San Diego District Attorney files a Felony Complaint in one of San Diego’s Criminal Courts.
(a) A felony is a crime that is punishable with death, by imprisonment in the state prison, or notwithstanding any other provision of law, by imprisonment in a county jail under the provisions of subdivision (h) of Section 1170. (California Penal Code 17(a)).