What are examples of compoundable offenses?

Asked by: Frederic Greenfelder DDS  |  Last update: February 11, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (15 votes)

Compoundable offenses are less serious crimes, often with private victims, where the victim and accused can settle the matter through compromise, leading to case withdrawal, with examples including theft, assault, defamation, criminal trespass, cheating, and certain types of hurt, though some require court permission, while others don't, ending in an acquittal as if the accused were found not guilty.

What types of offenses are compoundable?

This is called 'compounding', further action in trial is discontinued. Cases in which this is permissible are called compoundable offences. Examples of such offences are Hurt, Wrongful Confinement, Assault, Molestation, Cheating, Adultery etc.

What are compoundable and non-compoundable offences?

Compoundable offences are those offencesthat can be compromised, i.e. the complainant can agree to withdraw the charges levied against the accused, while, non – compoundable offences are more serious offences in which the parties cannot make a compromise.

What are the 4 types of offenses?

Offences against person, property or state. Personal offences, fraudulent offences. Violent offences, sexual offences. Indictable/non-indictable offences etc.

What exactly is compounding of offenses?

Compounding a crime is an offense committed by the victim of a crime, by agreeing not to pursue criminal charges or to prevent criminal charges in exchange for a price from an accused individual.

Compoundable Offences and Not Compoundable Offences, Compromise in Criminal Cases, Criminal Law,

38 related questions found

What are the three types of offenses?

The three main types of criminal offenses, based on severity, are Infractions (or Violations), Misdemeanors, and Felonies, ranging from minor offenses like traffic tickets (infractions) to serious crimes (felonies) punishable by significant prison time, with misdemeanors falling in between. Another classification system, particularly in Canada, categorizes them as Summary, Indictable, and Hybrid offenses, determining the court process. 

What is an example of compounding a crime?

Compounding a crime is accepting something of value from a person who has committed a crime in exchange for not reporting or not prosecuting the crime. For example, if Joe beats up Eddie, but then Eddie takes money from Joe in exchange for not reporting the assault to the police, Joe has compounded the crime.

What exactly is an indictable offense?

An indictable offense is a serious crime (like murder, rape, or armed robbery) that requires a formal indictment from a grand jury before it can proceed to trial, unlike less serious "summary" offenses. The term signifies a major charge, often equivalent to a felony in other places, requiring significant legal process, potentially involving a grand jury reviewing evidence, and leading to severe penalties like long prison sentences.
 

What is the most common offense?

Theft or larceny is the most common type of property crime. It's estimated that someone is a victim of theft every 5.5 seconds. The next most common crime is burglary, which involves breaking and entering.

What are the 8 focus crimes?

"8 focus crimes" typically refers to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's Part I offenses in the U.S. (murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, vehicle theft, arson) or, in the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) list (murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of vehicles/motorcycles). These lists cover serious, frequent crimes that law enforcement tracks closely, though the specific categories differ slightly between systems.
 

What are some examples of non-compoundable offenses?

Examples of non-compoundable offences include serious offences like murder, rape, and terrorism.

Is theft compoundable or not?

Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Non-bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Compoundable by the owner of the property stolen with the permission of the court.

How to settle a non-compoundable offence?

Where the victim and offender have compromised disputes essentially civil and personal in nature, the High Court can exercise its power under Section 482 of the Cr. P.C. to quash the criminal proceedings. "Needless to say that offences which are non-compoundable cannot be compound by the Court.

Which offences are not compoundable?

Non-compoundable Offences are those where compromise between parties is not legally permitted as these are considered serious crimes against society at large - examples include murder (Section 302 IPC), grievous hurt (Section 326 IPC), rape (Section 376 IPC), and kidnapping (Section 363 IPC).

What makes an offense non-compoundable?

Non-compoundable offences cannot be amended; instead, they must be overturned through a full trial. These offences are more grave and serious, having an impact on society as a whole rather than just the victim.

What does compound mean in legal terms?

1 : to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense) NOTE: Compounding a felony is a common-law crime. 2 : to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal.

What's the worst felony you can get?

The "worst" felony is typically a Capital Felony, often defined as premeditated murder, treason, or espionage, carrying penalties of life imprisonment or the death penalty, though federal systems classify the most severe as Class A felonies, which also include murder, terrorism, and large-scale drug trafficking, punishable by life in prison or the death penalty. Specifics vary by state, but generally, the most serious crimes (like first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, arson causing death) fall into the highest categories (Class A, First Degree, Capital). 

Which state is #1 in crime?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data. 

Who decides if a case is indictable?

Lesson Summary

The process of indicting an individual is as follows: the person commits the indictable offense, the prosecution presents evidence in front of a grand jury without the defense present, and the grand jury decides whether or not to indict.

What is the most serious indictable offence?

These encompass severe crimes like murder, sexual assault, and major drug offenses. The Criminal Procedure Act 1986 and Crimes Act 1900 categorize offences, with strictly indictable offences mandatorily processed in higher courts. Trials for these offences often involve juries, unless a judge-alone trial is elected.

Is an indictment the same as a conviction?

Simply put, an indictment is an accusation, while a conviction is a determination of guilt. An indictment is the beginning of the criminal prosecution process, while a conviction is the end result of that process.

What are some examples of compoundable offenses?

Hurt, wrongful restraint, assault, molestation, fraud, adultery, and other similar crimes are compoundable offences.

What are the 10 types of common crimes?

Ten common crimes often cited include Larceny/Theft, Burglary, Assault, Robbery, Motor Vehicle Theft, Drug Crimes, DUI (Driving Under the Influence), Fraud/Identity Theft, Domestic Violence, and Vandalism, with property crimes like theft being the most frequent overall, followed by violent offenses. 

What is an example of misprision of a felony?

Example 1: A person witnesses a robbery but does not report it to the police and actively helps the robber avoid capture. This could be considered misprision of a felony. Example 2: A friend confesses to committing a burglary, and another person decides to hide the stolen items instead of reporting the crime.