What are the Kinds of Crimes?
Crimes are divided into two main categories — felonies and misdemeanors — depending on the crime’s seriousness and the length of punishment. Felonies are crimes generally punishable by more than one year’s imprisonment. You have the right to a jury trial when charged with a felony crime. The common law felonies include: • Murder • Rape • Robbery • Burglary • Kidnapping • Treason Misdemeanors are crimes generally punishable by less than one year’s imprisonment. You have the right to a jury trial when charged with a misdemeanor if the crime is considered serious enough. The common law system of dividing crimes into felonies and misdemeanors is gradually being replaced with newer systems based on statutes enacted by legislatures. Many of these newer systems are based on a model law called the “Model Penal Code,” which classifies crimes by “degree.” First-degree crimes include the most serious crimes like: • Murder • Sexual assault • Kidnapping Fourth degree crimes include the least seriou
