Felony
Felony
Felony (/ˈfɛləni/), from the Old French word "félonie", is a serious crime that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death. The term originated from English common law to categorize crimes that were originally punishable by forfeiture of a person's land and goods to the king.
Definition
In the United States, a felony is a crime that is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) categorizes felonies into violent and non-violent crimes. Violent felonies include murder, rape, and robbery, while non-violent felonies include fraud, embezzlement, and drug offenses.
In the United Kingdom, a felony was historically a crime that resulted in the forfeiture of a person's land and goods to the king. However, the distinction between felonies and misdemeanors was abolished in the UK by the Criminal Law Act 1967.
Related Terms
- Misdemeanor: A crime that is less serious than a felony and is usually punishable by a fine, penalty, forfeiture, or imprisonment for less than one year.
- Infraction: A violation of a rule or law that is not punishable by imprisonment.
- Capital crime: A crime that is punishable by death.
- White-collar crime: A non-violent crime that is committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Felony
- Wikipedia's article - Felony
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