Legal Definitions - index offense

An index offense is a violation of the law, also known as a criminal offense or crime. It can range from minor offenses to serious felonies. The term "offense" is often used interchangeably with "crime" or "criminal offense."

• Acquisitive offense: This refers to crimes that involve the unlawful appropriation of someone else's property, such as theft or larceny.
• Allied offense: This is a crime that has elements similar to another crime, and committing one automatically means committing the other. For example, assault and battery are often considered allied offenses.
• Anticipatory offense: This refers to inchoate offenses, which are crimes that involve planning or attempting to commit a crime. For example, conspiracy to commit murder is an anticipatory offense.
• Arrestable offense: In English law, an offense for which the punishment is fixed by law or for which a statute authorizes imprisonment for five years, or an attempt to commit such an offense. This category was created in 1967 and abolished the traditional distinction between felonies and misdemeanors.

These examples illustrate the different types of index offenses that can occur. They show that index offenses can range from theft to planning a crime, and that the severity of the offense can vary. It is important to understand the different types of index offenses to better understand the criminal justice system and the consequences of committing a crime.