A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by less than one year in prison. If jail time is ordered in a misdemeanor case it is served in the county jail rather than a state prison.
Most DUI cases are misdemeanors. Other misdemeanors are crimes such as trespass, possession of paraphernalia and most petit theft charges.
It is common for people to say “oh, it’s just a misdemeanor.” But some misdemeanor charges can have serious consequences. Petit theft charges are crimes of dishonesty that can be counted against you when looking for a job. Some misdemeanors can result in suspension of your driver’s license even if the charge ahs nothing to do with driving
