A felony refers to any criminal offense that is deemed to be of serious nature. To be convicted of a felony, the crime must be of grave seriousness and often involves bringing serious harm to others. These crimes will typically go on public record for anybody to view. In the United States, a felony consists of any offense that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for over one calendar year.
There are many more consequences that come along with receiving a felony conviction as opposed to that of a lesser classification, such as a misdemeanor. For example, if a person is convicted of a felony, he or she will no longer be able to obtain certain licenses in the United States, such as a visa. It is also unlikely that future potential employers would hire a known felon. A person convicted of a felony loses the right to vote as well as the right to own or carry a gun.