When you are charged with a crime, you will be given a specific name and classification of the crime you are charged with. Each state has its own way of classifying crimes the terms “felony” and “misdemeanor” are universal – even if they don’t always mean the same thing everywhere.

So what do these terms mean in Illinois? How are crimes classified? What does it mean to be a “convicted felon”?

Illinois has three classifications of misdemeanors and [...]