Different Types of Criminal Offenses
A US citizen is required by law to obey all the laws in each state. Failure to do so could result in a legal situation where you are accused of criminal offenses. Each state has its own set of criminal laws. Some are federal but only apply to one state. Others are specific to a given city or county, making it difficult for a person to commit them. To better understand the differences between each type, it is important to know what each entails.
A common offense is a theft, but it isn’t necessarily a felony. Theft of a motor vehicle is a felony. This crime can also include the theft of a motorboat or airplane. Theft of a firearm, however, is a misdemeanor. An attempted crime can occur when someone assists another in committing a crime but doesn’t actually complete it. While it doesn’t result in jail time, the inflicted person may still be punished for the underlying crime.
Seriousness
The most serious types of criminal offenses are felonies. The most serious types of crimes involve serious bodily harm to the victim, such as robbery, assault, or burglary. Fraud schemes and white-collar crimes are also felonies. A misdemeanor may be elevated to a felony when committed as a second offense. While a misdemeanor is a lesser crime than a felony, it can still result in jail time. Penalties for a felonious crime can even be life-long incarceration and can result in a death sentence.
There are four main categories of criminal offenses. They fall into two broad categories: statutory and personal. The first is the theft of property. The latter is the most serious type of criminal offense. The latter includes all kinds of criminal activity. A felony is an illegal act that involves the illegal taking of something of value from another person, while a non-felony crime involves the taking of a person’s possessions.
Other Criminal Offenses
Other types of criminal offenses are classified as traffic crimes. These are crimes committed on public roads. They may overlap with other types of crimes. DUI, for example, is a traffic offense and an alcohol-related crime. Other common traffic offenses are driving with a suspended license, hit-and-run accidents, and reckless driving. In some cases, fatal accidents occur during traffic incidents. These are considered homicides.
The most common types of criminal offenses are listed below.
- Violent Crimes.
- Drug Offenses.
- Crimes Related to Alcohol.
- Property Crimes.
- Fraud.
There are two categories of crimes. Generally, a felony is a crime that involves a person stealing something from another person. Depending on the nature of the crime, a felony may involve a firearm. A felony involving drugs is a crime that is defined by the law. Some people have been arrested for the following crimes: thieves, sexual predators, and petty burglars.