Crime

Misdemeanor

A misdemeanor is a criminal offense that is a much lesser crime than a felony. The seriousness of the crime will not warrant more than a small amount of time spent in a county jail, and will usually just incur a fine.

Misdemeanants

A person who is found guilty of a misdemeanor is known as a misdemeanant. The accused will not receive this title until they have been officially convicted of a crime. Misdemeanors cover several types of criminal activity.

Petty Theft

Any act of theft from either an individual or public location is considered to be petty theft, as long as the value of the items taken is no more than four hundred dollars. A person who is found guilty of petty theft on more than one occasion may have their case upgraded to a felony charge.

Prostitution

A person who provides sexual favors in exchange for monetary or other forms of compensation is guilty of prostitution.

Simple Assault

A simple assault is an attack on a person without the use of a weapon. This may involve slapping, punching and kicking. When a weapon is involved, the charge is upgraded to aggravated assault.

Drunk Driving

This is only considered a misdemeanor when no one is harmed in the process. When a person is injured by a drunk driver, the level of the crime becomes more serious than a misdemeanor.

Disorderly Conduct

This type of crime is broadly defined as one that disrupts the general peace in a public arena. It can involve being drunk in public, soliciting others for money or loitering.

Trespassing

Entering onto a piece of property that is owned by another person or corporation without permission is considered trespassing. Exceptions to this include postal workers, emergency personnel, process servers and other professionals who are allowed access for business-related purposes.

Traffic Violations

These may include speeding, running a red light, illegal parking or driving at night without proper headlights. These violations usually result in a minor fine.

Vandalism

This is the destruction or defacing of either private or public property. It may include graffiti, the breaking of windows, scratching the paint of a vehicle with a key or any destruction of another's property.

Any crime that deserves a jail sentence of more than one year is not listed as a misdemeanor, but as a felony. Misdemeanors may not have quite as serious a nature as felonies, but they can result in a black mark on the perpetrator's permanent record, hefty fees and in some cases, incarceration.