Five Categories of Crime

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Five Categories of Crime Shepherd Leach CRJ201 Tracy Crump June 18, 2012 This paper will be a discussion of the five categories of crime. These are felonies, misdemeanors, offenses, treason and espionage and inchoate offenses. One must have a good understanding of these to understand how the criminal justice system works. For each of the five categories we will also be discussing the history, rank in terms of seriousness, consequences if convicted of said crime, and how each of the crimes is tried in court. We will discuss the general categories of crime and how they translate into the real world. The first of the crimes to be discussed is that of felonies. The felony is the most severe category of crime that can be committed against a person. Felonies against property are considered just as severe as felonies against persons. This particular crime consists of murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, and arson. “Following common law tradition, people who are convicted of felonies today usually lose certain privileges” (Schmalleger 120-121). Felons lose the right to vote or become an elector; they cannot hold public office or run for office. Felons can have these rights restored in some cases. A felon is also not allowed to serve on a jury for seven years or while they are a defendant in a pending felony case. Also a felon cannot possess firearms and in certain situations a felon could lose a professional license or permit. In the case of felonies penalties can range from probation and fines to capital punishment. Misdemeanors are the next category of crime to be discussed. Misdemeanors are for the most part considered mid-level classes of crime. Misdemeanors consist “of offenses like petty theft”; these are thefts of items with little to no worth. This category also includes “simple assault, in which the victim
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