Types of Felony

States generally classify crimes, on the basis of blameworthiness, as either felonies or misdemeanors. Generally a felony is a crime punishable by death or by imprisonment in a state prison for a year or longer. Sometimes felonies are divided into capital crimes (punishable by death or imprisonment) and noncapital crimes (punishable by imprisonment only). Statutes may declare a certain crime, such as robbery, is a felony. If the statute is silent as to the gravity of the crime, but incarceration in a state prison is the prescribed punishment, the crime is a felony. Violent felony crimes include murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault (assault with a weapon), rape, sexual assault, arson and robbery, both armed and unarmed. Non-violent felonies include property offenses, drug offenses and white-collar crimes. Property offenses include burglary, larceny, fraud, forgery, and certain types of vandalism and receipt of stolen property. White-collar crimes take place in a business or other professional environment where one person intentionally tries to gain financial benefit while causing loss for others. The most common felony charges are drug possession, aggravated assault, arson, burglary, murder and rape.