8, February 2010
Criminal Offenses
You give a friend a ride to a convenience store, and see him hold up the cashier. He comes running out of the store with a bag of money. You panic and drive quickly back to your house and help the friend hide the money. You may not realize it, but if you get caught you can be in as much trouble as the friend who physically robbed the store. The process of justice after a person gets caught is often unknown to the average citizen. Crime is taking over our country, and individuals are succumbing to the attraction of crime. People commit crimes for various reasons. Every offence that can be committed has its own consequence. Crimes are divided into three different categories based on their level of severity: citations, misdemeanors, and felonies.
Citations are of the lowest degree of criminal offenses. Citations are used by police to charge a person with a crime without the need of an arrest. Citations are the minimum punishment possible for committing a crime. Citations may be given for a number of offenses including: traffic violations and city code violations.
Misdemeanors are the next most severe category in which crimes can be labeled. Misdemeanors are all crimes that are less severe than a felony. Misdemeanors are divided into three categories: first degree, second degree, and third degree. First degree is the most serious, and second and third degree are less serious, respectively. Some examples of the third degree misdemeanors are simple assault, DUI, and some minor drug offenses. Resisting arrest, aggravated assault, fraud, and drug offenses are examples of crimes likely to be found under the second and first degree categories.
The third and most serious category of crime is felonies. Felonies are punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment for more than a year. Crimes commonly considered being felonies are illegal drug use/sales, aggravated assault and/or battery, arson, burglary, grand...