Criminal Cases
Definition of Criminal Cases
Note: See a more comprehensive approach to the Criminal Cases legal concept in the American Law Encyclopedia
Criminal cases can be divided into at least three categories. The most serious criminal cases are felonies. Most states and the federal government define felonies as crimes for which a prison sentence of at least one year could result. Misdemeanors, on the other hand, are less serious but far more numerous. Sanctions for misdemeanors typically cannot exceed a year's detention in local facilities. If traffic offenses are defined as criminal, they are included in the jurisdiction of misdemeanor courts. Some states subdivide misdemeanors into more and less serious classes. Another category of criminal behavior is crime by juveniles. Each state has its own structure for dealing with such cases in a manner distinct from the handling of adult offenders.
Resources
Criminal Cases Related Resources
- Criminal Cases in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Judicial Process Keywords in the United States Legal Encyclopedia
- Criminal Process Keywords in the International Legal Dictionary
Notes
- “Criminal Cases”, The American Law Dictionary, 1991, California
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