Classification of crimes

Historically crimes are classified as treasons, felonies and misdemeanors, but there exist other classifications: indictable offences and offences punishable on summary conviction and the classification based on the immediate objects of the crimes (against the State and Public Order, property, reputation and so on).

Treason is the offence of a citizen in attempting to overthrow the government or in betraying a state into the hands of a foreign power.

Felonies are those crimes punishable by death or by imprisonment in a state prison, although a lesser punishment may be impose by the court.

Crimes not so serious in nature as felonies are misdemeanors.

Felony, i.e. any of the more serious crimes such as murder, larceny, rape, arson and aggravated assault, formerly punishable by death and forfeiture of property but in England is now punishable in the same way as misdemeanors except in the few surviving instances in which capital punishment still exists (treason and special cases of murder).

The former importance of the distinction between felony and misdemeanor is now reduced to a few minor procedural differences, such as the larger powers of arrest for suspected felony.

In the United States the distinction between a felony and a misdemeanor lies in how it is punishable, not the degree of infamy of the offence. All crimes which are not felonies or treason are misdemeanors punishable by a fine or by imprisonment other than in a prison. Originally a misdemeanor was a crime not resulting in the forfeiture of property in conviction, and at one time all felonies were punishable more severely than misdemeanor (usually by death). Today, however, some misdemeanors are punishable in England more severely than some felonies, though never by death. Examples of misdemeanor are perjury, obtaining money by false pretences and conspiracy.