Editing Misdemeanor (section)

== Distinction between felonies and misdemeanors ==
[[Image:Graffiti in Bucharest, July 2007.jpg|thumb|In the US, [[graffiti]] is a common form of misdemeanor [[vandalism]], although in many states it is now a felony.|none]]

A misdemeanor is considered a crime of lesser seriousness, and a [[felony]] one of greater seriousness.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Classification of Crimes|url=https://open.lib.umn.edu/criminallaw/chapter/1-4-classification-of-crimes/|website=M Libraries Publishing|date=17 December 2015 |publisher=University of Minnesota|access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> The maximum punishment for a misdemeanor is less than that for a felony under the principle that the punishment should fit the crime.<ref>''Doing Justice: The Choice of Punishments'', A VONHIRSCH, 1976, p.220</ref><ref>''Criminology'', Larry J. Siegel</ref><ref>''An Economic Analysis of the Criminal Law as Preference-Shaping Policy'', Duke Law Journal, Feb 1990, Vol. 1, Kenneth Dau-Schmidt, {{JSTOR|1372651}}</ref> One standard for measurement is the degree to which a crime affects others or society. Measurements of the degree of seriousness of a crime have been developed.<ref name="OSS">{{Cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=James P. |last2=Danner |first2=Mona J. E. |date=September 1993 |title=Offense seriousness scaling: An alternative to scenario methods |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/BF01064464 |journal=Journal of Quantitative Criminology |language=en |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=309–322 |doi=10.1007/BF01064464 |s2cid=144528020 |issn=0748-4518}}</ref>

In the United States, the federal government generally considers a crime punishable with incarceration for not more than one year, or lesser penalty, to be a misdemeanor. All other crimes are considered felonies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:18%20section:3559%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section3559)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true |title=18 USC 3559: Sentencing classification of offenses |date=1 November 1987 |website=uscode.house.gov |access-date=6 April 2017 }}</ref> Many US states also employ the same or a similar distinction.

The distinction between felonies and misdemeanors has been abolished by several [[common law]] jurisdictions, notably the UK<ref>{{cite web |title=Criminal Law Act 1967 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1967/58/contents |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=3 December 2018}}, s.1, in force 1 Jan 1968</ref> and Australia.<ref>{{Citation |title=Crimes Act 1958 - SECT 322B Abolition of distinctions between felony and misdemeanour |work=Victorian Current Acts |url=http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ca195882/s322b.html |publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute |access-date=2022-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Crimes Act 1900 - SECT 580E Abolition of distinction between felony and misdemeanour |work=New South Wales Consolidated Acts |publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute |url=http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca190082/s580e.html |access-date=2022-05-17}}</ref> These jurisdictions have generally adopted some other classification (in the UK the substance of the original distinction remains, only slightly altered): in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth nations]] of Australia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/home/charges+laid/types+of+offences/|title=Types of offences |website=Victims of Crime |language=en-au|access-date=2017-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170202062233/http://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/home/charges+laid/types+of+offences/ |archive-date= Feb 2, 2017 }}</ref> Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-accused-of-a-crime/understanding-charges/types-of-offences|title=Types of Offences |website=Province of British Columbia |language=en|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref> New Zealand,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/lawyers-and-service-providers/criminal-procedure-act/offence-categories-and-types-of-trials/|title=Offence categories & types of trials |website=New Zealand Ministry of Justice |language=en-NZ|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref> and the United Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/summary_offences_and_the_crown_court/|title=Summary Offences and the Crown Court: Legal Guidance |website=The Crown Prosecution Service |access-date=2017-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130025739/http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/summary_offences_and_the_crown_court/ |archive-date= Jan 30, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/courts/magistrates-courts|title=Criminal courts |website=GOV.UK |language=en|access-date=2017-01-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728220631/https://www.gov.uk/courts/magistrates-courts |archive-date= Jul 28, 2017 }}</ref> the crimes are divided into [[summary offence]]s and [[indictable offence]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.findlaw.com.au/faqs/1188/what-is-the-difference-between-a-summary-and-indic.aspx|title=What is the difference between a summary and indictable offence?|website=FindLaw|access-date=2017-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034932/http://www.findlaw.com.au/faqs/1188/what-is-the-difference-between-a-summary-and-indic.aspx |archive-date= Feb 2, 2017 }}</ref> The [[Republic of Ireland]], a former member of the Commonwealth, also uses these divisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dppireland.ie/filestore/documents/Chapter_2_The_Prosecution_System_in_Ireland.htm|title=Guidelines for Prosecutors - Director of Public Prosecutions|last=Prosecutions|first=Office of the Director of Public|website=www.dppireland.ie|language=en|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref>

In some jurisdictions, those who are [[convict]]ed of a misdemeanor are known as '''misdemeanants''' (as contrasted with those convicted of a [[felony]] who are known as ''felons''). Depending on the jurisdiction, examples of misdemeanors may include: [[theft|petty theft]], [[prostitution]], [[public intoxication]], [[assault|simple assault]], [[disorderly conduct]], [[trespass]], [[shoplifting]], [[vandalism]], [[reckless driving]], [[indecent exposure]], [[forcible touching]], and possession of [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] for personal use.