What characterizes a misdemeanor?

A misdemeanor is characterized as a criminal charge that typically carries penalties of less than one year of incarceration. This classification distinguishes misdemeanors from felonies, which are more serious offenses resulting in longer prison sentences, usually exceeding one year.

Misdemeanors often involve less severe crimes, such as petty theft, minor assault, or vandalism, and are usually punishable by fines, community service, probation, or short-term jail time. The maximum penalty may vary depending on jurisdiction, but the key defining feature remains the one-year threshold for potential imprisonment.

In contrast, civil charges are not typically related to incarceration but rather involve disputes between individuals or entities over rights and liabilities, which is why the other options related to civil charges are not applicable to the definition of a misdemeanor. The focus on incarceration time is crucial to understanding the legal definitions of various types of crimes.