What type of offense carries fines or imprisonment in jail for up to a year?

A misdemeanor is classified as a type of offense that is considered less severe than a felony but more serious than an infraction. It typically carries penalties that can include fines and imprisonment in jail for up to one year. This level of offense allows for a range of punishments, and individuals convicted of misdemeanors may face consequences that affect their personal and professional lives.

In contrast, felonies are more serious crimes that usually result in harsher penalties, including longer prison sentences. Infractions, on the other hand, are minor offenses, often resulting in fines rather than imprisonment, and civil violations are not criminal offenses but rather breaches of laws that result in fines or penalties without the possibility of jail time. Thus, the unique characteristic of misdemeanors, with their potential for short-term incarceration and fines, distinctly defines their classification within criminal law.