Legal Definitions - graded offense

A graded offense is a violation of the law that is considered a crime, often a minor one. It is also known as a criminal offense. The terms "crime," "offense," and "criminal offense" are often used interchangeably.

• Acquisitive offense: This is a type of offense where someone unlawfully takes someone else's property. Examples of acquisitive offenses include larceny and theft.
• Allied offense: This is a crime that has elements similar to another crime. If someone commits one of these crimes, they automatically commit the other. For example, if someone commits robbery, they also commit assault.
• Anticipatory offense: This is also known as an inchoate offense. It is a crime that someone plans to commit but has not yet carried out. For example, if someone plans to rob a bank and takes steps to do so, they can be charged with an anticipatory offense.
• Arrestable offense: In English law, an arrestable offense is a crime for which the punishment is fixed by law or for which a statute authorizes imprisonment for five years. This includes crimes like murder, rape, and robbery.

These examples illustrate how a graded offense can encompass a variety of crimes, from minor offenses like theft to more serious crimes like murder. The severity of the offense is often determined by the punishment that is authorized by law.