A crime is typically classified as which of the following?

• A. A civil violation or petty offense
• B. A misdemeanor or felony
• C. A traffic infraction only
• D. A court order

Answer: (B)

Crimes are categorized by how serious they are, with two main levels: misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is a less serious crime that typically carries penalties like up to a year in jail and fines. A felony is more serious, with longer potential sentences and greater penalties. The other terms describe different kinds of offenses or actions that aren’t crimes in the same sense: civil violations are handled in civil court, traffic infractions are usually administrative or civil violations, and a court order is simply a directive from a court, not a crime. So the usual way to classify a crime is as a misdemeanor or a felony.