A misdemeanor arrest is an arrest that occurs because a person has committed or is accused of a misdemeanor. In countries and jurisdictions that place crimes into misdemeanor and felony categories, misdemeanors are considered less serious, while felonies are considered the most serious of crimes. For example, petty theft may be considered a misdemeanor in some places, while murder is considered a felony.
Some countries do not classify criminal arrests as misdemeanors or felonies. This method of classification is typically used in common law countries. Some other countries classify crimes as summary offenses and indictable offenses. A summary offense is often referred to as a petty crime for which convicted individuals may receive shorter jail terms. Indictable offenses are considered more serious and typically carry longer sentences; these crimes are similar to felonies. The United States is a country in which crimes are classified as misdemeanors and felonies, while the United Kingdom uses the summary and indictable offense classification.
There are many crimes that may lead to a misdemeanor arrest. In some places, petty theft and receiving stolen property are considered misdemeanors. A person commits petty theft by taking another person’s personal property with the intent to keep it permanently, dispose of it, give it away, or sell it. The petty theft designation may be used for theft crimes that involve a lower amount of money or low property value. Receiving stolen property involves accepting items an individual knows are stolen.
Trespassing is another crime that may garner a misdemeanor arrest. This involves going onto another person’s property illegally, especially if the individual who does so knows he’s not permitted to be there. Public drunkenness, which is simply being drunk in a public place, is another type of crime that may be considered a misdemeanor. In some places, prostitution may be considered a misdemeanor as well.
Often, individuals who are convicted of misdemeanors face less severe penalties than they would expect with more serious criminal charges. In many jurisdictions, these crimes carry jail sentences of less than one year. Jail time is often spent in a local or county jail rather than a prison, and some misdemeanor charges carry both monetary fines and jail time. Not every misdemeanor arrest ends in jail time, however. Sometimes convictions lead to suspended sentences, probation, or community service instead. Others require the convicted person to pay a fine rather than serving jail time.
