Entering The Federal System:

A person appears in federal court if they are charged with a federal offense. The person will be summoned to court or arrested. The categories for federal offenses are:

* A petty offense is a crime punishable by six months or less in jail.

* A misdemeanor offense is a crime punishable by a prison sentence of one year or less.

* A felony offense is a crime punishable by a year or more in prison.