Dictionary of Law
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felony :: legal definition


Felony - n. 1) a crime sufficiently serious to be punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison, as distinguished from a misdemeanor which is only punishable by confinement to county or local jail and/or a fine. 2) a crime carrying a minimum term of one year or more in state prison, since a year or less can be served in county jail. However, a sentence upon conviction for a felony may sometimes be less than one year at the discretion of the judge and within limits set by statute. Felonies are sometimes referred to as "high crimes" as described in the U.S. Constitution.

See also: misdemeanor sentence and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
adverse possession :: n. a means to acquire title to land through obviou ... o: possession prescriptive easement
back-to-back life sentences :: n. slang for consecutive life terms imposed by a j ... ther 25 years for a parole hearing.
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
concurrent sentences :: n. sentences for more than one crime which are to ... ith the longest period controlling.
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
crime against nature :: n. an oldfashioned term for sodomy (anal sexual in ... states. See also: bestiality sodomy
cumulative sentence :: n. when a criminal defendant has been found guilty ... in a five-year term in the example.
disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude
District Attorney (D.A.) :: n. an elected official of a county or a designated ... dent and serve at his/her pleasure.
ex post facto :: adj. Latin for "after the fact," which refers to l ... ted before the new law was adopted.
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
first degree murder :: n. although it varies from state to state, it is g ... aughter murder second degree murder
fugitive from justice :: n. a person convicted or accused of a crime who hi ... extradition. See also: extradition
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
grand larceny :: n. the crime of theft of another's property (inclu ... f the loot. See also: larceny theft
home rule :: n. the power of a local city or county to set up i ... state funds for local improvements.
incest :: n. sexual intercourse between close blood relative ... ily genes carrying such weaknesses.
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
infancy :: n. although the popular use of the word means the ... nority. See also: ad litem minority
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
juvenile delinquent :: n. a person who is under age (usually below 18), w ... low as 14. See also: juvenile court
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
leasehold :: n. the real estate which is the subject of a lease ... sehold. See also: condominium lease
misdemeanor :: n. a lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or coun ... tion are felonies. See also: felony
misprision of a felony :: n. the crime of concealing another's felony (serio ... also: accessory aid and abet felony
municipal court :: n. a lower court which usually tries criminal misd ... nd/or small claims. See also: court
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
parole :: n. 1) the release of a convicted criminal defendan ... sed he will not take up arms again.
petty larceny :: n. a term used in many states for theft of a small ... emeanor in charging and sentencing.
prior(s) :: n. slang for a criminal defendant's previous recor ... es for the third felony conviction.
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
prostitution :: n. the profession of performing sexual acts for mo ... so: pander panderer pimp prostitute
public defender :: n. an elected or appointed public official (usuall ... to convicted indigents for appeals.
robbery :: n. 1) the direct taking of property (including mon ... We've been robbed." See also: theft
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
sheriff :: n. the top law enforcement officer for a county, u ... ." See also: bailiff sheriff's sale
sodomy :: n. anal copulation by a man inserting his penis in ... tiality). See also: bestiality rape
special circumstances :: n. in criminal cases, particularly homicides, acti ... urant. See also: capital punishment
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
successive sentences :: n. in criminal law, the imposition of the penalty ... uld be 15 years. See also: sentence
three strikes, you're out :: n. recent (beginning 1994) legislation enacted in ... ich involve small amounts of money.
toll :: v. 1) to delay, suspend or hold off the effect of ... bridge or take passage on a ferry.
vehicular manslaughter :: n. the crime of causing the death of a human being ... gence manslaughter reckless driving
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens
white collar crime :: n. a generic term for crimes involving commercial ... committed by "blue collar" workers.
youthful offenders :: n. under-age people accused of crimes who are proc ... alty. See also: juvenile delinquent

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - F

face amount :: n. the original amount due on a promissory note or ... rein, without calculating interest.
face value :: n. in shares of stock, the original cost of the st ... on the certificate, or "par value."
fact :: n. an actual thing or happening, which must be pro ... dge if he/she sits without a jury).
fact finder (finder of fact) :: n. in a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution ... n facts. See also: question of fact
factor :: n. 1) a salesman who sells in his/her own name on ... ing that contributes to the result.
failure of consideration :: n. not delivering goods or services when promised ... n. See also: consideration contract
failure of issue :: n. when someone dies leaving no children or other ... ildren or other direct descendants.
fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander
fair market value :: n. the amount for which property would sell on the ... so: appraise appraiser market value
fair trade laws :: n. state laws which permit manufacturers or produc ... state constitutions in many states.
fair use :: n. the non-competitive right to use of copyrighted ... for a royalty. See also: copyright
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
false imprisonment :: n. depriving someone of freedom of movement by hol ... for damages. See also: false arrest
false pretenses :: n. the crime of knowingly making untrue statements ... orm of theft. See also: fraud theft
family :: n. 1) husband, wife and children. 2) all blood rel ... ting this economic and social unit.
family purpose doctrine :: n. a rule of law that the registered owner of an a ... riving his/her car with permission.
federal courts :: n. the court system which handles civil and crimin ... rans' appeals. See also: bankruptcy
federal question :: n. one basis for filing a lawsuit in federal distr ... ves the federal court jurisdiction.
Federal Tort Claims Act :: n. a statute (1948) which removed the power of the ... diction to federal district courts.
fee :: n. 1) absolute title in land, from old French, fie ... See also: attorney's fee fee simple