CATEGORIES OF CRIME

Categories of Crime

Categories of Crime

The Five Main Categories of Crime:

Felonies

Felonies are serious crimes. A felony is a criminal offense punishable by death or imprisonment in a prison. Examples are rape, murder, arson, aggravated assault (and battery). Convicted felons lose the privilege in some states. Some states do not allow them to run for public office, own firearms and could exclude professions such as medicine, law and police work. Attempted criminal activity is also illegal. An attempt to murder or rape, for example, is a serious crime, even when the planned act is not accomplished.

Misdemeanor

Petty crimes such as disorderly conduct, DUI, filing false reports of crime, etc. misdemeanor convictions may include jail time, but typically include community service such as washing school buses, cleaning of parks, picking up trash along the freeway.

Violation

A lesser offense than a misdemeanor, usually something that involves a ticket. i.e. jaywalking. Another word that describes minor transgression is transgression.

Treachery and espionage

Treachery and espionage are two special categories of crimes, the most serious of felonies.

Infidelity

A United States citizen action to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the United States.

Treason is a federal offense; it is also a crime under the laws of most states. Infidelity may be more generally defined as the attempt to overthrow the government of society where one is a member.

Espionage Refers to the "gathering, transmitting, or loss" of information related to national defense in such a way that information becomes available to the enemies of the United States and can be used to their advantage.

Inchoate

Inchoate offense is an offense not yet completed. Crimes that have not yet been carried out. For example, a woman who hires a hit man to kill her husband.

First Offense

First offense is an offense not yet completed. Crimes that have not been fulfilled. ...