If you are charged with a crime, it is important to know the level of the offense and the possible sentence. Criminal convictions can carry harsh penalties, including jail or prison time. If you are charged with a crime in Indiana, the decision on whether to enter a plea agreement or to go to trial will be largely influenced by the possible sentence. In any criminal case, it is important to develop a strategy to minimize or eliminate the possible length of jail or prison time. In negotiating plea agreements, one of the most important criteria for a defendant is reducing exposure to executed time in jail or prison.

Sentences for Felonies in Indiana are as follows:

Class A felony: 20 to 50 years in prison
Class B felony: 6 to 20 years in prison
Class C felony: 2 to 8 years in prison
Class D felony: 6 months to 3 years in prison

Sentences for Misdemeanors in Indiana are as follows:

Class A misdemeanor: 0 to 365 days in jail
Class B misdemeanor: 0 to 180 days in jail
Class C misdemeanor: 0 to 60 days in jail

Criminal sentences in Indiana can also carry substantial fines, from up to $500.00 for a Class A misdemeanor and up to $10,000.00 for a Class A felony. In certain circumstances, judgment of conviction on a Class D felony can be entered as a Class A misdemeanor. If you are charged with a Class D felony, it is important to determine whether you are eligible to have judgment entered as a Class A misdemeanor. Eligibility for reduction of a Class D felony charge, to a Class A misdemeanor, can be a significant factor in both plea negotiations and the decision on whether to go to trial.

If you are charged with a crime in Indiana, it is important to understand the possible penalties that you are facing. An experienced Indiana criminal attorney can help you develop a strategy to seek to minimize any possible sentence. Understanding the possible consequences of a felony or misdemeanor conviction is also important in developing a plea negotiation strategy and in determining whether to go to trial.