{"id":2891,"date":"2025-10-15T00:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/legal-definition-of-a-misdemeanor-in-california-law\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T15:48:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:48:47","slug":"legal-definition-of-a-misdemeanor-in-california-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/misdemeanor\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Misdemeanors&#8221; in California &#8211; 9 Key Things to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" title=\"&amp;quot;What is a misdemeanor?&amp;quot; Top 5 questions answered by a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor\" style=\"width:853px;max-width:100%;margin:5px auto;\"><div class=\"lyMe\" id=\"WYL_OMIeYopVxIw\" itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\"><div><meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOMIeYopVxIw%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"embedURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMIeYopVxIw\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT2M40S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2021-12-16T06:54:12Z\" \/><\/div><div id=\"lyte_OMIeYopVxIw\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOMIeYopVxIw%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" class=\"pL\"><div class=\"tC\"><div class=\"tT\" itemprop=\"name\">&quot;What is a misdemeanor?&quot; Top 5 questions answered by a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"play\"><\/div><div class=\"ctrl\"><div class=\"Lctrl\"><\/div><div class=\"Rctrl\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/OMIeYopVxIw\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOMIeYopVxIw%2F0.jpg\" alt=\"&amp;quot;What is a misdemeanor?&amp;quot; Top 5 questions answered by a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor\" width=\"853\" height=\"460\" \/><br \/>Watch this video on YouTube<\/a><\/noscript><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Neil Shouse explains the concept of a misdemeanor, and how it is different from a felony under California law. More info at https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/misdemeanor\/ or call (855) 999-7755 for a free consultation. If you or a loved one is charged with a crime we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group. We can provide a free consultation in office or by phone. We have local offices in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Long Beach, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and throughout California.\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lL\" style=\"max-width:100%;width:853px;margin:5px auto;\"><\/div><\/p>\n<p>In California, <strong>misdemeanor<\/strong> crimes carry up to 364 days in county jail and $1,000 in fines. A <strong>misdemeanor<\/strong> is more serious than an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/infractions\/\">infraction<\/a> but less serious than a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/felony\/\">felony<\/a>, including felony DUI in California, which carries state prison time.<\/p>\n<p>Here are five key things to know about <strong>misdemeanors<\/strong> in California:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"padding-top: 15px;\">Standard <strong>misdemeanors<\/strong> carry up to six months in and\/or up to $1,000 in fines.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-top: 15px;\">Gross or aggravated <strong>misdemeanors<\/strong> carry up to 364 days in jail and\/or up to $1,000.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-top: 15px;\">Most defendants facing <strong>misdemeanor<\/strong> charges are eligible for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/probation\/misdemeanor-probation\/\">probation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-top: 15px;\">If you successfully complete a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/pretrial-diversion\/\">diversion<\/a> program, the case will be dismissed.<\/li>\n<li style=\"padding-top: 15px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/wobbler\/\">Wobblers<\/a> are crimes the prosecutor can charge as a <strong>misdemeanor<\/strong> or a felony.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-171034\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Common-misdemeanors_-visual-selection1.png\" alt=\"Graphic showing common examples of misdemeanors, such as DUI, domestic battery, trespass, and petty theft\" width=\"1151\" height=\"903\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Common-misdemeanors_-visual-selection1.png 1151w, https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Common-misdemeanors_-visual-selection1-300x235.png 300w, https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Common-misdemeanors_-visual-selection1-1024x803.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Common-misdemeanors_-visual-selection1-768x603.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1151px) 100vw, 1151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This chart illustrates the difference between <strong>misdemeanors<\/strong> and felonies:<\/p>\n<table class=\"has-border\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Felonies<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Misdemeanors<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least one year in jail or prison or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/probation\/felony-probation\/\">formal probation<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Up to 6 months or 364 days in jail or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/probation\/misdemeanor-probation\/\">informal (summary) probation<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fines of up to $10,000 or more<\/td>\n<td>Fines of up to $1,000 or more<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Permanent loss of gun rights<\/td>\n<td>Permanent loss of gun rights only for misdemeanors involving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/domestic-violence\/\">domestic violence<\/a> or a second <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/417\/\">brandishing<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/1203-4\/\">Expungements<\/a> possible except for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/1192-7\/\">serious<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/667-5\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">violent<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/sex-offender-registration\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">sex offender crimes<\/a><\/td>\n<td>Expungements possible except for misdemeanor sex crimes against a child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Here at Shouse Law Group, our experienced criminal defense attorneys, with decades of trial experience and insider knowledge from prosecutorial experience, have represented literally thousands of people charged with <strong>misdemeanors<\/strong>. In nearly all cases, we can get the charges dismissed through a diversion program, probation, or negotiation without ever having to go to trial. We offer free consultations and 24\/\/7 availability to discuss your case and answer questions you may have.<\/p>\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/\">California criminal defense lawyers<\/a> discuss the following key topics re. <strong>misdemeanors<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"article-nav bullets\">\n<li><a href=\"#1\">1. Penalties<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2\">2. Common Crimes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3\">3. Wobblers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4\">4. Arrests<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#5\">5. Probation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#6\">6. Criminal Record<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7\">7. Expungement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#8\">8. Immigration Consequences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#9\">9. Gun Rights<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#10\">Additional reading<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wistia_embed\" title=\"PODCAST: \u201cMisdemeanors\u201d in California \u2013 8 Key Things to Know Audio\" src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/y9g3yelpcu?seo=true&amp;videoFoam=true\" name=\"wistia_embed\" width=\"100%\" height=\"218px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/assets\/external\/E-v1.js\" async><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"1\"><\/a>1. Penalties<\/h2>\n<p>The worst-case <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/blog\/california-misdemeanor-sentencing-guidelines\/\">penalties<\/a> for California misdemeanors are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li>6 months in jail (for standard misdemeanors) or 364 days in jail (for gross\/aggravated misdemeanors); and<\/li>\n<li>$1,000 in fines (plus court costs) or more in some cases.<sup class=\"fn\">1<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note that in Los Angeles County, courts must impose sentences on the low end of the penalty range absent extraordinary circumstances.<sup class=\"fn\">2\u00a0<\/sup>This low-end sentencing policy often results in reduced charges and alternative sentencing options for first-time offenders.<\/p>\n<p>You may sometimes read that a misdemeanor can be punished by \u201cup to one year\u201d in the jail, though this is technically incorrect in California: As of January 1, 2015, the maximum sentence is 364 days, which is one day shy of a year.<sup class=\"fn\">3 <\/sup>This mandatory maximum prevents deporation consequences for many non-citizens convicted of a single misdemeanor.<\/p>\n<p>We explain some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/blog\/felony\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-felony-and-a-misdemeanor-under-california-law\/\">differences between a felony offense and a misdemeanor here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"2\"><\/a>2. Common Crimes<\/h2>\n<p>Some of the most common <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/blog\/misdemeanor-examples\/\">California misdemeanor cases<\/a> we see include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/health-and-safety-code\/11350\/\">Drug possession<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/647f\/\">Drunk in public<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/dui\/\">DUI first<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/647f\/\">Indecent exposure<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/484\/\">Petty theft<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/647b\/\">Prostitution<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/459-5\/\">Shoplifting<\/a>, and<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/602\/\">Trespassing<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The most common gross\/aggravated misdemeanors cases we handle include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/243e1\/\">Domestic battery<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a id=\"insertion_98941\" href=\"\/ca\/defense\/vehicle-code\/14601\/\" data-insertion-id=\"98941\">Driving on a suspended driver&#8217;s license<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/dui\/\">DUI second<\/a> and,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/273-6\/\">Violating a restraining order<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 309px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/what-are-some-common-misdemeanors-in-california.jpg\" alt=\"woman putting new pair of jeans with tags into her purse as an example of misdemeanor shoplifting\" width=\"500\" height=\"309\" data-remove=\"true\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">There are no unclassified misdemeanors in California criminal law.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"3\"><\/a>3. Wobblers<\/h2>\n<p>In California, wobblers are crimes that prosecutors can charge as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on your criminal history and the facts of the case.<sup class=\"fn\">4<\/sup>\u00a0Examples of wobblers include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li>Brandishing a weapon,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/368\/\">Elder\u00a0abuse<\/a>, and<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/245a1\/\">Assault with a deadly weapon<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Certain felony sentences can be served in county jail as opposed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdcr.ca.gov\/\">state prison<\/a>. However, all misdemeanor sentences are served in county jail rather than prison.<\/p>\n<p>In some cases, our skilled misdemeanor attorneys can conduct a &#8220;prefile intervention&#8221; where we contact the prosecutors ahead of time and try to persuade them against bringing felony charges. If we can show their evidence is weak, we may be able to persuade them to drop the entire case and achieve case dismissal before formal charges are filed.<\/p>\n<p>Note that California law also has &#8220;wobblettes&#8221; which are offenses that can be charged as either misdemeanors or infractions (which are civil and therefore carry no jail). Examples of wobblettes include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/415\/\">Disturbing the peace\/disorderly conduct<\/a> and<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/602\/\">Trespassing<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"insertion_99013\" class=\"insertion image \" data-insertion-id=\"99013\">\n<div style=\"width: 280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 270px; height: 179px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/what-is-the-process-after-a-misdemeanor-arrest.jpg\" alt=\"closeup of a young man in a t-shirt in handcuffs against a blank background\" width=\"270\" height=\"179\" data-remove=\"true\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Most misdemeanor cases never proceed to trial.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"4\"><\/a>4. Arrests<\/h2>\n<p>Misdemeanor cases in California can proceed through various stages of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/juvenile\/court-process\/\">criminal court process<\/a> in the following order:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Arrest by law enforcement;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/process\/arraignment\/\">Arraignment<\/a> (formal charging and plea);<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/release\/bail\/hearings\/\">Bail hearing<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/process\/pretrial\/\">Pretrial phase<\/a> (including discovery and motions to dismiss or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/1538-5\/\">suppress evidence<\/a>);<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/process\/jury-trial\/\">Jury trial<\/a>\u00a0or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/nv\/defense\/process\/bench-trial\/\">bench trial<\/a>; and<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/appeals\/\">Appeal<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In our experience, most cases will not go through all of these steps. A case can be dropped at any stage if the evidence is weak, or else the prosecution and you can agree to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/blog\/plea-bargain\/\">plea bargain<\/a>. Many clients ask &#8220;what happeneds next?&#8221; or &#8221; what are my options?&#8221; Our qualified criminal defense attorneys provide immediate legal advice during a confidential consultation to explain the case timeline, court dates, and what to expect in court.<\/p>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"5\"><\/a>5. Probation<\/h2>\n<p>Nearly all of our clients facing misdemeanor convictions are eligible for probation in California with no jail time. Sometimes, misdemeanor probation is referred to as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Summary probation, or<\/li>\n<li>Informal probation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Misdemeanor probation typically lasts for 364 days unless the crime statute specifies otherwise. During that time, you must adhere to certain conditions in order to stay out of jail. Our attorneys help clients complete probation requirements and provide compliance assistance to avoid probation violations.<\/p>\n<p>Conditions of probation can\u00a0include (without limitation):<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li>Community service or labor (such as <a href=\"https:\/\/dot.ca.gov\/\">CAL-TRANS<\/a> roadside work),<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/electronic-monitoring\/\">Electronic monitoring<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/process\/sentencing\/house-arrest\/\">house arrest<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li>Participation in counseling or treatment programs, and\/or<\/li>\n<li>Paying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/victim-advocacy\/calculating-restitution\/\">victim restitution<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note that in Los Angeles County, courts must grant probation in probation-eligible cases absent extraordinary circumstances.<sup class=\"fn\">5<\/sup><\/p>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"6\"><\/a>6. Criminal Record<\/h2>\n<p>In California, a misdemeanor charge results in a criminal record when you:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li>Plead guilty,<\/li>\n<li>Plead \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/no-contest-pleas\/\">no contest<\/a>,\u201d or<\/li>\n<li>Are found guilty at trial.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An exception is when you participate in and successfully complete:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/1000\/\">PC 1000 drug diversion<\/a> or<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/proposition-36\/\">Prop 36 drug diversion<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thousands of our clients have successfully completed diversion. As soon as the program ends, the judge dismisses the charges, and there will be no conviction on your record, meaning you&#8217;ll have a clean criminal background for employment purposes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"insertion_134782\" class=\"insertion image \" data-insertion-id=\"134782\">\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 334px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/legal-definition-of-a-misdemeanor-in-california-law.jpg\" alt=\"a judge's wooden gavel resting on top of a tall pile of legal documents\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" data-remove=\"true\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Misdemeanor offenses are the least serious criminal charges. .<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"7\"><\/a>7. Expungement<\/h2>\n<p>California law permits the expungement of most misdemeanor crimes. The exception is a misdemeanor sex crime against a child \u2013 such as certain counts of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/261-5\/\">statutory rape<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To be eligible to expunge a misdemeanor, you:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li>Must have successfully completed probation and<\/li>\n<li>Must not currently be charged with, on probation for, or serving a sentence for a criminal offense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If asked about criminal history on a job application or in an interview, you do not need to disclose an expunged conviction. Our expungement services help clients clear their records and restore their rights, addressing common concerns about &#8220;will it affect my job?&#8221; and background check concerns.<\/p>\n<p>You may also wish to read our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/labor\/discrimination\/ban-the-box\/\">\u201cCriminal Convictions and Job Applications in California.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"8\"><\/a>8. Immigration Consequences<\/h2>\n<p>We have represented countless visa- and green card holders facing criminal charges. Our immigration consultation services and deportation defense strategies protect non-citizens&#8217; immigration status. From what we have seen, most misdemeanors do not lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/deportation-defense\/deportable-crimes\/\">deportation<\/a> for non-citizens unless they involve:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li>Drugs,<\/li>\n<li>Firearms, or<\/li>\n<li>Domestic violence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Under U.S. law, you are subject to deportation if within five years of admission to the U.S you commit a crime that:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li>Involves <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/laws\/crimes-involving-moral-turpitude\/\">moral turpitude<\/a> and<\/li>\n<li>Carries a potential sentence of 1 year or more.<sup class=\"fn\">6<\/sup><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As\u00a0of January 1, 2015, the maximum punishment for a misdemeanor in California is 364 days.<sup class=\"fn\">7<\/sup> Because this is less than one year, a conviction on a single California misdemeanor no longer subjects you to deportation for a crime of moral turpitude.<\/p>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"9\"><\/a>9. Gun Rights<\/h2>\n<p>California imposes a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/29805\/\">10-year firearm ban<\/a> if you get convicted of one of about 40 misdemeanors, such as:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bullets\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/240\/\">Assault<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/242\/\">Battery<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li>Brandishing a weapon, or<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/422\/\">Making criminal threats<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Meanwhile, you face a lifelong firearm ban for a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction or a second-time conviction of brandishing a firearm.<sup class=\"fn\">8\u00a0<\/sup>Gun owners and those concerned about whether they can keep their gun rights should consult with our attorneys about firearm possession restrictions and potential gun rights restoration options.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/gun-laws\/\">California gun laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"insertion_98932\" class=\"insertion image \" data-insertion-id=\"98932\">\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 235px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/what-is-a-california-wobbler-offense.jpg\" alt=\"close-up of judge's wooden gavel coming down on his desk near his scales of justice scupture\" width=\"500\" height=\"235\" data-remove=\"true\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">There are two classes of misdemeanors: Standard and gross\/aggravated.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><a class=\"anchor\" name=\"10\"><\/a>Additional Reading<\/h2>\n<p>For more in-depth information, refer to these scholarly articles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/3475512\">Criminal Law: Punishment: Misdemeanors: Statutory Construction<\/a> &#8211; <em>California Law Review<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/heinonline.org\/HOL\/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals\/tjeflr24&amp;div=24&amp;id=&amp;page=\"> <span class=\"cite_title\"> Three Strikes and You&#8217;re in (For Life): An Analysis of the California Three Strikes Law as Applied to Convictions for Misdemeanor Conduct<\/span><\/a> &#8211; <em>Thomas Jefferson Law Review<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/heinonline.org\/HOL\/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals\/scal85&amp;div=43&amp;id=&amp;page=\"> <span class=\"cite_title\"> Misdemeanors<\/span><\/a> &#8211; <em>California Law Review<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/heinonline.org\/HOL\/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals\/bclr61&amp;div=26&amp;id=&amp;page=\"> <span class=\"cite_title\"> Misdemeanors by the Numbers<\/span><\/a> &#8211; <em>Boston College Law Review<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/heinonline.org\/HOL\/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals\/waslee70&amp;div=26&amp;id=&amp;page=\"> <span class=\"cite_title\"> Crashing the Misdemeanor System<\/span><\/a> &#8211; <em>Washington &amp; Lee Law Review<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>Legal references:<\/h4>\n<div class=\"footnotes\">\n<ol>\n<li id=\"fn:1\"><a id=\"insertion_98928\" class=\"insertion link\" href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=19.&amp;lawCode=PEN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-insertion-id=\"98928\">California Penal Code 19 PC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=18.5.&amp;lawCode=PEN\">PC 18.5<\/a>. Note that California does not have misdemeanor classifications such as class a misdemeanors, class b misdemeanors, or class c misdemeanors. See also <a href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/CA\/text\/AB321\/2025\">AB 321 (2025)<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li id=\"fn:2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.georgegascon.org\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/SPECIAL-DIRECTIVE-20-08-.docx.pdf\">LADA Directive 20-08<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li id=\"fn:3\">Same. See, for example <a href=\"https:\/\/case.law\/caselaw\/?reporter=cal-app-5th&amp;volume=2&amp;case=0884-01\">People v. Hronchak (<span class=\"metaDataItem\">Court of Appeal of California, Second Appellate District, Division Seven<\/span>, 2016) <span class=\"metaDataItem\">2 Cal. App. 5th 884<\/span><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li id=\"fn:4\">See <a id=\"insertion_98984\" class=\"insertion link\" href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=17.&amp;lawCode=PEN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-insertion-id=\"98984\">California Penal Code section 17(b) PC<\/a>. See, for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.casemine.com\/judgement\/us\/5914f619add7b0493498de17\">People v. Park (2013) <span class=\"metaDataItem\">56 Cal. 4th 782<\/span><\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.casemine.com\/judgement\/us\/67ebb1f264039b39ef975370\">In re. JD (Cal.App. 2025) No. B338111<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li id=\"fn:5\">See note 2; <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB1950\">California Assembly Bill 1950 (2020)<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li id=\"fn:6\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uscode.house.gov\/docnotfound.xhtml\">INA 237(a)(2)(A)<\/a>; <a id=\"insertion_98985\" class=\"insertion link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/8\/1227\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-insertion-id=\"98985\">8 USC 1227(a)(2)(A)<\/a>. See, for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/case-law.vlex.com\/vid\/united-states-v-rodriguez-893897664\">U.S. v. Rodriguez-Vega (9th Cir., 2015) <span class=\"metaDataItem\">797 F.3d 781<\/span><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li id=\"fn:7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/ca\/defense\/penal-code\/18-5\/\">Penal Code 18.5 PC<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li id=\"fn:8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&amp;sectionNum=29805.\">Penal Code 29805 PC<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&quot;What is a misdemeanor?&quot; Top 5 questions answered by a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutorWatch this video on YouTube In California, misdemeanor crimes carry up to 364 days in county jail and $1,000 in fines. A misdemeanor is more serious than an infraction but less serious than a\u00a0felony, including felony DUI in California, which &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":3585,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"hc_page_category":[],"hc_faqs":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2891","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"hc_city_location-california","6":"entry","7":"has-post-thumbnail"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2891"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204558,"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2891\/revisions\/204558"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"hc_page_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hc_page_category?post=2891"},{"taxonomy":"hc_faqs","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shouselaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hc_faqs?post=2891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}