All crimes are different and are categorized as such. One way to classify crimes is to determine what type of crime has been committed – a felony or a misdemeanor. Crimes are also classified on a social level of criminal law as mala in se or mala prohibita. In order to determine the punishment of certain crimes, criminal officers must determine on the severity of the crime.
A felony is a crime that is considered serious or violent. There are four degrees in which a felony is classified and punished. One degree of a felony is called a capital offense and is punishable by the death penalty. A capital crime punishment differs by every state, but generally, a person that commits a capital crime for example, aggravated murder, automatically becomes …show more content…
Misdemeanors include crimes such as trespassing, a DUI, or disorderly conduct. Misdemeanors are usually rebuked by a fine. In some cases, misdemeanors may be punished with jail time, usually up to a year. Many areas in the U.S. classify misdemeanors in two ways: a gross misdemeanor and a petty misdemeanor. A gross misdemeanor crime is a criminal act that is less serious than a third degree felony, but more significant than a petty misdemeanor. This crime can include a consequential punishment of 30 days (maximum) in jail. An example of this type of crime is assaulting a police officer, shoplifting, or simple assault. A traffic citation is an example of a petty misdemeanor. A petty misdemeanor can result in jail time of less than 30 …show more content…
Criminologists deem a criminal act either mala in se or mala prohibita. A criminal act is considered mala in se if it violates the moral laws of society. Mala in se does not refer to social norms based on the current laws of a certain region; it refers to the laws, or boundaries that people make as far as what is fundamentally and ethically right. An example of mala in se crimes are murder, rape, and abuse. Dissimilarity, an act is considered mala prohibita if it violates actual laws. Mala prohibta describes an act that is a crime only because it has been established as illegal or prohibited. Mala prohibita acts reflect the social norms of a society and are interchangeable with time. Some examples of mala prohibita crimes that are now legal or looked back on as severe injustices are the rights African American’s, women’s rights, and gay marriage.
Felonies and misdemeanors are both offenses of crime, categorized into degrees and types. However, where felonies are very serious crimes, misdemeanors are minor crimes. In addition to offenses of crimes, there are also ways that crimes are distinguished. Mala in se and mala prohibita are both ways to classify the social aspects and functions of crime. While mala in se is based on the moral principles of a society, mala prohibita is based on the actual laws set by the governing society. They all come together and make it easier to define and sort
A felony is a crime that is considered serious or violent. There are four degrees in which a felony is classified and punished. One degree of a felony is called a capital offense and is punishable by the death penalty. A capital crime punishment differs by every state, but generally, a person that commits a capital crime for example, aggravated murder, automatically becomes …show more content…
Misdemeanors include crimes such as trespassing, a DUI, or disorderly conduct. Misdemeanors are usually rebuked by a fine. In some cases, misdemeanors may be punished with jail time, usually up to a year. Many areas in the U.S. classify misdemeanors in two ways: a gross misdemeanor and a petty misdemeanor. A gross misdemeanor crime is a criminal act that is less serious than a third degree felony, but more significant than a petty misdemeanor. This crime can include a consequential punishment of 30 days (maximum) in jail. An example of this type of crime is assaulting a police officer, shoplifting, or simple assault. A traffic citation is an example of a petty misdemeanor. A petty misdemeanor can result in jail time of less than 30 …show more content…
Criminologists deem a criminal act either mala in se or mala prohibita. A criminal act is considered mala in se if it violates the moral laws of society. Mala in se does not refer to social norms based on the current laws of a certain region; it refers to the laws, or boundaries that people make as far as what is fundamentally and ethically right. An example of mala in se crimes are murder, rape, and abuse. Dissimilarity, an act is considered mala prohibita if it violates actual laws. Mala prohibta describes an act that is a crime only because it has been established as illegal or prohibited. Mala prohibita acts reflect the social norms of a society and are interchangeable with time. Some examples of mala prohibita crimes that are now legal or looked back on as severe injustices are the rights African American’s, women’s rights, and gay marriage.
Felonies and misdemeanors are both offenses of crime, categorized into degrees and types. However, where felonies are very serious crimes, misdemeanors are minor crimes. In addition to offenses of crimes, there are also ways that crimes are distinguished. Mala in se and mala prohibita are both ways to classify the social aspects and functions of crime. While mala in se is based on the moral principles of a society, mala prohibita is based on the actual laws set by the governing society. They all come together and make it easier to define and sort