Crime Wrongful act against society defined by law

Crime Wrongful act against society defined by law and made punishable by law

Felony Serious crime punishable by death or imprisonment for more than year

Misdemeanor Less serious Crime punishable by a jail sentence of less than one year

Cybercrimes Crime committed with or through the use of computers or computer technology

Assault Crime of unlawfully causing physical injury to another; tort of threatening another with bodily harm

Robbery Forcible taking of money or personal property from another

Arson Intentional, illegal burning of a home, building, or personal property

Burglary Unlawfully entering another’s home or building with the intent to commit crime

Theft Unlawful taking of a person’s property without the use of force and with the intent of permanently depriving the person of the property

Larceny Intentional theft of the money or personal property of another

Shoplifting Taking merchandise from a store without paying for it

Embezzlement Unlawful use or stealing of property by one who has been legally entrusted with the property

Forgery Making a false written instrument or the material alteration of an existing genuine written instrument with the intent to deceive

False Pretense Unlawfully obtaining. Through deception or trickery, possession of another individual’s lawful property

Blackmail Crime in which a person illegally obtains money or other property by making threats; also called extortion

Receiving Stolen Property Possession of property acquired as the result of some wrongful or dishonest act of taking

Insider Trading Receiving and profiting from advance inside information about the stock of a publicly held corporation

Bribery Unlawful payment used to secure new business, obtain proprietary information, or manage some personal gain

Identity Theft Unlawfully obtaining and using personal indentifying information of another person

Driving While Intoxicated Having consumed sufficient alcohol that the ability to properly operate a motor vehicle is affected

Dram Shop Act Law imposing liability on bars and taverns selling alcoholic beverages to intoxicated persons

Computer Crime Using a computer for fraudulent purposes

Defense Reason an accused offers to excuse his or her guilt in a criminal action; also, reason offered by defendant in a lawsuit for being relieved of responsibility

Duress Crime committed by a person who was forced to act against his or her own free will

Entrapment A law enforcement officer persuading or forcing a person to commit a crime

Arrest To take into police custody

Probable Cause Reason able belief that a crime has been committed or certain facts exist

Bail Money or property given to a court to obtain the release of a person from jail

Initial Appearance Person’s first appearance before a judge after being arrested

Preliminary Hearing immediately following an arrest to determine if probable cause for the arrest existed and whether continued restraint of the accused was warranted

indictment Formal, written accusation by a grand jury that one has committed a crime

Arraignment Charging a person with a crime and asking for that person’s plea

Parole Conditional release from prison allowing a person to serve the rest of a prison sentence outside prison

Probation Allowing a person convicted of an offense to avoid prison and be free on good behavior, usually under the supervision of a probation officer