CRIMINAL LAW

Criminal law entails establishing boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a civilized society. A crime is an act or omission that society, through the laws of its government, has deemed to be morally or politically harmful, not only to the victim of a crime but to society as a whole.

If a person is convicted of a crime, he or she may be fined, imprisoned, or in some states such as Florida, executed. Federal and state governments have authority to create and enforce criminal law, though the scope of federal criminal jurisdiction is more limited than a state's jurisdiction. The federal government can only define and punish crimes committed in federally owned or controlled areas such as the District of Columbia and national parks, or regarding matters expressly stated in or prohibited by the United States Constitution or the United States Code, such as postal matters, interstate commerce, securities or federal elections. A state, on the other hand, has broad criminal jurisdiction over all internal issues relating to the health, safety, welfare and morals of its citizens.

Classification of Crimes

Florida has two criminal classifications: felony and misdemeanor. A felony is generally defined as any crime punishable by death or more than one year in prison. A misdemeanor is any crime punishable by imprisonment for less than one year. Florida also has a classification known as a noncriminal violation, which is an offense punishable by fine, forfeiture or civil remedy. Felonies and misdemeanors are further divided into different degrees. The following list shows the maximum imprisonment and fines for felonies and misdemeanors.

*Capital Felony: death or life imprisonment with no parole
*Life Felony: 40 years to life; $15,000
*Felony in the First Degree: 30 years; $10,000
*Felony in the Second Degree: 15 years; $10,000
*Felony in the Third Degree: 5 years; $5,000
*Misdemeanor in the First Degree: 1 year; $1,000
*Misdemeanor in the Second Degree: 60 days; $500

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