Misdemeanors and Felonies
Criminal violations come in two varieties, Misdemeanors and Felonies. Various types of felonies include murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault (assault with a weapon), rape, sexual assault, arson and robbery, both armed and unarmed. Non-violent felonies include property offenses, drug offenses and white-collar crimes to name a few.
Felony: A serious crime usually punishable by a prison term of more than one year or, in some cases, by death. For example, murder, extortion, and kidnapping are felonies.
A minor fist-fight is usually charged as a misdemeanor, and a speeding ticket is generally an infraction. In some states, certain crimes may be charged as both a misdemeanor and a felony, and the eventual designation depends on the defendant’s ability to fulfill the conditions of his sentence.
All statutes describing criminal behavior can be broken down into their various elements. Most crimes (with the exception of strict-liability crimes) consist of two elements: an act, and a mental state. Prosecutors have to prove each and every element of the crime to yield a conviction. Furthermore, the prosecutor must persuade the jury or judge “beyond a reasonable doubt” of every fact necessary to constitute the crime charged.
Felonies (Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D)
Misdemeanors (Class A, Class B, Class C)
Infractions