无论您是 为潜在雇员进行背景调查的雇主 ，还是想知道违反法律将如何影响您的招聘机会的求职者，您都需要了解轻罪和重罪之间的区别。我们回顾了这两种刑事犯罪之间的基本区别，并探讨了什么构成了简单的违法行为。
违规
违法是最不严重的违法行为。一般来说，违法者只需支付罚款即可解决违规行为。这种罪行不会出现在您的犯罪记录中，而且很少需要出庭，更不用说坐牢了。
交通罚单是最常见的违规类型。如果您因超速驾驶 10 英里而收到罚单，您将因违法而受到处罚，但该违法行为不会构成犯罪记录。其他违规犯罪的例子是擅自闯入、乱扔垃圾和噪音违规。这些事件通常不会出现在背景调查中——除非雇主 进行驾驶历史调查——而且如果被问及你是否有犯罪记录，他们也不会要求你回答“是” 。
轻罪
轻罪比违法更严重。与交通罚单不同，轻罪是一种刑事犯罪。轻罪根据严重程度分为不同的类别。
联邦指导方针将轻罪分为 A 类、B 类或 C 类。每个类都有最低和最高刑期，但作为辩诉交易的一部分，法官可以免除监禁时间。以下是不同类别的轻罪的标准句子。
A级：最高一年监禁；至少六个月
B类：最多六个月的监禁；至少 30 天
C 类：最多 30 天的监禁；最少五天
通常被视为轻罪的犯罪的一些例子是小偷小摸、鲁莽驾驶、故意破坏、行为不检、公众醉酒和某些攻击罪。持有大麻在过去是一种轻罪，但随着越来越多的州将大麻合法化和非刑事化，这种分类正在发生变化。根据管辖权和持有数量，首次持有其他毒品也可能被指控为轻罪。
重罪
重罪是最严重的刑事指控。在联邦范围内，重罪是指任何判处一年或更长时间监禁的犯罪——尽管有些州根本没有定义“重罪”。属于这一类的犯罪通常具有暴力性质或以其他方式严重破坏，无论是对人员、财产还是两者都有。通常被归类为重罪的犯罪包括谋杀、强奸、严重袭击、过失杀人、入室盗窃、纵火和虐待动物。
与轻罪一样，根据惩罚的严重程度，也有不同级别的重罪。
A级：终身监禁或死刑
B级：25年以上有期徒刑
C级：10年以上25年以下有期徒刑
D级：5年以上10年以下有期徒刑
E级：1年以上，5年以下
在 GOOHO.CN， 我们的犯罪背景调查报告 总是清楚地说明刑事定罪是属于轻罪还是重罪。
running a background check for a prospective hire or a job seeker wondering how a run-in with the law will impact your hiring chances, you need to know the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony. We review the basic differences between these two criminal offenses and explore what constitutes a simple infraction.
Infractions
Infractions are the least-severe violation of the law. Generally, an offender can resolve an infraction by simply paying a fine. This kind of offense does not show up on your criminal record and rarely necessitates court time, let alone jail time.
Traffic tickets are the most common type of infraction. If you get a ticket for driving 10 miles over the speed limit, you will be punished for breaking the law, but the offense will not contribute to a criminal record. Other examples of infraction crimes are trespassing, littering, and noise violations. These incidents will generally not show up on a background check—unless an employer runs a driving history check—and they do not require you to answer “Yes” if asked whether you have a criminal record.
Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors are more severe than infractions. Unlike a traffic ticket, a misdemeanor is a criminal offense. Misdemeanors fall into various categories depending on severity.
Federal guidelines classify misdemeanors as Class A, Class B, or Class C. Each class has a minimum and maximum jail sentence, though judges can waive jail time as part of a plea bargain. Here are the standard sentences for different classes of misdemeanors.
Class A: Up to one year in jail; minimum of six months
Class B: Up to six months in jail; minimum of 30 days
Class C: Up to 30 days in jail; minimum of five days
Some examples of crimes that are typically considered misdemeanors are petty theft, reckless driving, vandalism, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and certain assault offenses. Marijuana possession was a misdemeanor in the past, but that classification is changing as more states legalize and decriminalize the drug. First-time possession of other drugs may also be charged as a misdemeanor depending on the jurisdiction and the amount in possession.
Felonies
A felony is the most severe type of criminal charge. Federally, a felony is any crime with a sentence of one year or longer in prison—though some states don’t define “felony” at all. The crimes that fall into this category are often violent in nature or otherwise severely damaging, whether to people, property, or both. Examples of crimes that are typically classified as felonies are murder, rape, aggravated assault, manslaughter, burglary, arson, and animal cruelty.
As with misdemeanors, there are various classes of felony based on the severity of the punishment.
Class A: life in prison or the death penalty
Class B: 25 years in prison or longer
Class C: More than 10 years in prison, but less than 25
Class D: More than five years in prison, but less than 10
Class E: More than one year in prison, but less than five
At backgroundchecks.com, our criminal background check reports always clearly state whether a criminal conviction was classified as a misdemeanor or felony.
