It can be confusing trying to understand the different ways a crime might be charged and punished in Illinois. Some crimes are charged as ordinance violations, misdemeanors, or felonies. Some charges are categorized by type, for example, drug crimes, traffic crimes, crimes against a person, and crimes against property. Each type of charge has its own set of penalties. This article will review various types of misdemeanors and felonies. If you are interested in learning more, speak with a knowledgeable Chicago, IL criminal defense lawyer.
Categorized by Severity of Crime
One of the ways that crimes can be categorized in Illinois is by how severe they are. Generally speaking, this type of categorization generally includes felonies and misdemeanors.
Less severe crimes tend to be charged as misdemeanors, which can include driving under the influence (DUI), shoplifting, drug possession, assault, and battery. A crime under this category is classified as a Class A, B, or C Misdemeanor, with A being the most severe and C being the least. Misdemeanors can be punished with steep fines and up to a year in prison.