What are the 3 types of crime classifications?

Asked by: Jasen Streich  |  Last update: February 12, 2026
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The three main types of crime classifications in the U.S. are Infractions, Misdemeanors, and Felonies, differing by severity, with infractions being minor (fines only), misdemeanors less severe (jail up to a year), and felonies the most serious (prison time, potentially years or life).

What are the three classifications of crime?

If you violate the law in California, you may be charged with one of three offenses: infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies. Of these three, only misdemeanors and felonies are considered crimes and can result in a criminal record.

What are the three main types of crime?

The three types of offences are classified as summary offences, either way offences or indictable offences.

  • Summary Offence. A Summary Offence is an offence which on its own will normally only be dealt with at the Magistrates Court. ...
  • Either Way Offence. ...
  • Indictable Offence.

What are the types and classification of crime?

In addition, there are three types of crimes: felonies, misdemeanors and violations. Each one carries a different penalty depending upon the nature and circumstances of the crime. There are various categories of crime, including crimes against individuals and crimes against property.

What are the three crimes?

There are three general classifications for criminal offenses used in the United States – infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Here's an overview of what each classification means, what type of penalties or sentencing to expect, and common examples.

What Are the Different Types of Crimes?

24 related questions found

What are level 3 crimes?

Level 3 felonies are punishable by 3 to 16 years in prison. Aggravated battery and arson involving bodily injuries are both Level 3 felonies.

What are the three main types of crimes based on their severity?

Criminal law categorizes offenses to reflect their severity. It recognizes three major categories of crimes: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions.

What are the four types of crime?

Although there are many different kinds of crimes, criminal acts can generally be divided into five primary categories: crimes against a person, crimes against property, inchoate crimes, statutory crimes, and financial crimes.

How many levels of crime are there?

More important and substantive is the classification of crimes according to the severity of punishment. This is called grading. Crimes are generally graded into four categories: felonies, misdemeanors, felony-misdemeanors, and infractions.

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 is a category 3 offense?

Category 3 offences: Two or more years' imprisonment

You have the option of either being tried by a judge alone or having a jury trial. Category 3 offences could include aggravated assault, threatening to kill, dangerous driving or a third (or more) drink driving conviction.

What are the three most common crimes?

According to the Pew Research Center, the most common form of property crime in 2022 was larceny/theft, followed by motor vehicle theft and burglary. These crimes significantly impact victims financially and emotionally, and they constitute a considerable portion of criminal cases in the judicial system.

What are the five categories of crimes?

Five common types of crime include Violent Crimes, Property Crimes, White-Collar Crimes, Organized Crime, and Public Order Crimes, though categories can overlap, encompassing offenses like homicide (violent), burglary (property), fraud (white-collar), drug trafficking (organized/public order), and cybercrimes (cross-category).
 

What are three types of crime?

Types of crime

  • Cyber/online crime. Cyber or online crime is criminal activity that uses computers, networks or digital devices. ...
  • Driving offences. ...
  • Drug offences. ...
  • Fraud and economic crime. ...
  • Hate crime. ...
  • International and organised crime. ...
  • Proceeds of crime. ...
  • Terrorism.

What are the classification of federal felonies?

Class A Felonies: Maximum of life imprisonment or death. Class B Felonies: Maximum of 25 years or more. Class C Felonies: Maximum of 10-25 years. Class D Felonies: Maximum of 5-10 years.

What are the three classifications of documents?

Three common ways to categorize documents are by their purpose (Instructional, Conceptual, Reference) for learning, by their content structure (Structured, Semi-structured, Unstructured) for data handling, or by broad functional areas like Legal, Technical/Operational, and Financial, depending on the context. In business, you might also see types like Correspondence, Records, and Reports. 

How are crimes classified?

Crimes are generally graded into four categories: felonies, misdemeanors, felony-misdemeanors, and infractions. Often the criminal intent element affects a crime's grading.

What is a class 3 crime?

Class C/Class 3.

This category is home to felonies considered the least severe of all felonies and could include criminal trespass, criminal solicitation, or internet stalking. Punishment could include a prison sentence of two to five years and/or a fine of up to $10,000 or more.

What are the four core crimes?

ICL outlines four main categories of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

What are the three basic elements of a crime?

Elements of a Crime

In general, every crime involves three elements: first, the act or conduct (actus reus); second, the individual's mental state at the time of the act (mens rea); and third, the causation between the act and the effect (typically either proximate causation or but-for causation).

What are the three types of organized crime?

In the summaries below, a few of the most significant activities of transnational organized crime are divided into three areas: drug trafficking, human trafficking, and money laundering.

What are the four L's of crime?

English mystery author P. D. James succinctly described the motives for murder as the “4 Ls”: love, lust, lucre, and loathing. To begin to understand the motives for murder, one must understand the types of murder.

What are the three categories of offences?

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 the most common category of crime?

What Are the Most Common Types of Crimes in the US?

  • Theft and Burglary.
  • Assault and Violent Crimes.
  • Drug Crimes.
  • Fraud/Identity Theft.
  • Family Violence.
  • Cybercrimes.
  • Public Order Offenses.
  • White-Collar Crimes.

What are the two classifications of major crimes?

Introduction. The vast majority of crimes are prosecuted at the state level. In every state, crimes are put into distinct categories. The categories are usually “felony,” and “misdemeanor." Decisions on crime classification are made by state legislators; the determination focuses on the seriousness of the crime.