Attorney Joseph Bernard Discusses Life Felonies and Capital Felonies

1. Attorney Joseph Bernard Discusses
Life Felonies and Capital Felonies

2. ● One of the severest sentences handed down
in the American criminal justice system, a life
felony applies to very serious crimes.
● Examples include murder, human trafficking,
rape, and child abuse.
● Those charged with a life felony face spending
the rest of their life in prison without the
possibility of parole.
● Each state, as well as the federal government,
possesses their own rules regarding what
constitute a life felony.

3. ● However, a capital felony is considered
harsher than a life felony.
● Only present in certain states, capital
punishment refers to a death penalty, and
courts can only choose this option with certain
crimes such as first degree murder and high
treason.
● With the lack of popularity and availability of
capital punishment, life felonies have
increased in importance over the past few
decades.

4. About the Author:
● Since 2000, Attorney Joseph Bernard has
performed as Managing Partner of The Law
Offices of Joseph D. Bernard in Springfield,
Massachusetts.
● Currently focused on operating under the
influence (OUI) cases, Bernard earlier served
as lead trial counsel in state and federal life
felony cases.