petty crimes
Small-time lawbreaking acts
Petty crimes are minor offenses—shoplifting, vandalism, trespassing, petty theft.
The category distinguishes small-scale lawbreaking from serious felonies like assault or robbery.
He had a record of petty crimes but nothing violent.
The threshold varies by jurisdiction, but petty crimes typically carry fines or brief jail sentences rather than prison time.
- jaywalkingIllegal pedestrian crossing
- rolling stopDeceleration without full halt
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- shopliftingStealing store merchandise
- litteringDiscarding waste improperly
broken windows · mischief · trespassing · fare-dodging · turnstile jumping · vandalism · curfew violations · disorderly conduct · drunk and disorderly · fare evasion · parking violations · juvenile delinquency · speeding tickets · panhandling · public intoxication · open container · misdemeanor · pickpocketing
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- misdemeanorsmisdemeanor, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, shoplifting, loitering
- decriminalizationlegalization, legal reform, penal reform, drug reform, drug policy
- magistrate termsjustice of the peace, JP, district judge, stipendiary, bench
petty crimesfelonies
Serious punishable offenses
violent crimes · capital crimes · capital offenses · first-degree murder · high crimes
petty crimesatrocities
Extremely cruel acts
mortal sins · mass murder · genocide · abominations · serial killing
petty, crimes, crime, pettiness, pettier, pettiest, pettily, criminal, criminality