misdemeanant
Petty law violator
A misdemeanant is someone who has committed a misdemeanor—a minor criminal offense less serious than a felony.
The term appears mainly in legal contexts: The jail housed misdemeanants serving short sentences.
It's the formal counterpart to felon, though far less common in everyday speech.
Charge-reading court session
- pleaFormal request or defense
- summonsFormal court notification
- citationMention of a source
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
sentencing · fine · probation · community service · diversion program · expungement · plea bargain · verdict
Supervised trial period
- community serviceUnpaid labor benefiting society
- fineAcceptable in quality
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- restorative justiceConflict resolution through mutual healing
expungement · criminal record · diversion program · suspended sentence · restitution · parole · work release · house arrest
Minor stealing offense
- shopliftingStealing store merchandise
- vandalismWillful property damage
- trespassingUnauthorized presence on property
- disorderly conductCriminal public disturbance charge
public intoxication · loitering · jaywalking · graffiti · simple assault · reckless driving · disturbing the peace · larceny
Failing in duty
- youthState of being immature
- underageBelow legal minimum years
- adolescentPerson in puberty
- teenagerPerson aged thirteen-nineteen
juvenile court · reform school · minor in possession · truancy · curfew · youth offender · first-time offender · youthful indiscretion
arraignment
Charge-reading court session
hearing · sentencing · fine · probation · community service · diversion program · expungement · plea bargain · verdict · adjudication
probation
Supervised trial period
- community serviceUnpaid labor benefiting society
- fineAcceptable in quality
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
restorative justice · expungement · criminal record · diversion program · suspended sentence · restitution · parole · work release · house arrest · good behavior
petty theft
Minor stealing offense
- shopliftingStealing store merchandise
- vandalismWillful property damage
- trespassingUnauthorized presence on property
disorderly conduct · public intoxication · loitering · jaywalking · graffiti · simple assault · reckless driving · disturbing the peace · larceny · curfew violation
delinquent
Failing in duty
- youthState of being immature
- underageBelow legal minimum years
- adolescentPerson in puberty
teenager · juvenile court · reform school · minor in possession · truancy · curfew · youth offender · first-time offender · youthful indiscretion · juvenile record
misdemeanantfelon
Serious crime perpetrator
convicted felon · career criminal · habitual offender · murderer