Classification of Crimes Key Terms

Accessory After the Fact

A person who, knowing a crime has been committed, provides assistance to the offender with the intent to help them avoid arrest, trial, or punishment.

Accessory before the Fact

A person who helps the principal commit a crime but who is not present during the commission of the crime.

Accomplice

Someone who helps another person commit a crime.

Felony

A crime punishable by more than one year in prison or the death penalty.

Intent

The person intended or meant to commit a crime.

Misdemeanor

A criminal offense less severe than a felony, typically punishable by a fine, probation, community service, or jail time of up to one year

Motive

The reason a person commits a crime.

Act

The actual commission of a crime.

Attempt

Must have intended to commit a crime and taken some substantial step toward committing the crime.

Crime

An act committed or omitted in violation of a public law that makes it punishable by a government authority, often with penalties such as fines or imprisonment.

Elements

Essential components that must be proven for a legal claim or crime to succeed.

Crime of Omission

Is a failure to act when there is a legal duty to do so, which can lead to criminal liability.

Principal

The person who commits a crime.

Restitution

The restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner.

Solicitation

Asking, commanding, urging, advising another person to commit a crime.

Conspiracy

An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime.

Homicide

The killing of one human being by another, and it can be lawful or unlawful.

Assault

is any attempt or threat to carry out a physical attack upon another person.

Larceny

Theft of personal property.

Robbery

The crime of taking something of value from a person by using or threatening force

Burglary

The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a crime, typically theft.