In the context of criminal law, what does the term 'felony' generally refer to?

The term 'felony' in criminal law refers specifically to serious crimes, which are typically punishable by more than one year of imprisonment or by death in some jurisdictions. This classification of crimes is important because it influences the severity of penalties imposed and the legal processes involved. Felonies can include a wide range of offenses, from violent crimes like murder and assault to property crimes like burglary and large-scale fraud.

Understanding the distinction between felonies and other types of offenses is crucial. Minor crimes, often referred to as misdemeanors, generally carry lighter penalties, such as less than a year of imprisonment, while civil offenses pertain to non-criminal disputes where compensation or restitution is sought rather than punishment. Regulatory violations typically involve the breach of specific regulations or laws governing conduct, usually resulting in fines or administrative penalties rather than criminal charges. Thus, 'felony' explicitly denotes a more serious category of criminal conduct with significant legal repercussions.