The Three General Types of Offenses

In United States' law, there exist three general types of offenses, defined overall by the severity of the associated punishment. The three types of offenses are infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies.

An infraction, or a regulatory offense, is a violation of a rule, regulation, or local ordinance. It is a “petty” offense, and therefore less serious than a misdemeanor. Usually, infractions do not include access to certain rights, such as a right to a jury trial, and are seldom punishable by any loss of civil liberties, such as jail time or incarceration. Typically, a fine is the only punishment, although sometimes other regulatory actions are permissible, such as losing a license or permit.

A misdemeanor is defined as a lesser criminal act, less severe and thus assigned lesser punishments than more serious felonies, although punished more severely than an infraction. In general, a misdemeanor is defined as a crime punishable by a maximum of one year in local jail, in addition to other penalties and fines. Other punishments often include probation, community service, or part-time imprisonment. These punishments are not usually a revocation of civil rights, but rather a loss of privileges, including a public office, employment, or license.

A felony is the most severe type of crime, punishable by a minimum of one year in prison. Felonies may be broadly categorized as violent or non-violent. Depending on the nature of certain crimes, they can be punishable as either misdemeanors or felonies.

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