defelonize

English

Etymology

From de- +‎ felon +‎ -ize, apparently on the model of decriminalize.

Verb

defelonize (third-person singular simple present defelonizes, present participle defelonizing, simple past and past participle defelonized)

1. (transitive) To reduce the status of (a crime) such that it is no longer a felony.
   • 2011, Elana Zilberg, Space of Detention, Duke University Press, →ISBN, page 248:

     His solution, however, was not to reform sentencing laws or decriminalize or defelonize nonviolent crimes, […]