A crime is any omission or action that is considered an offense that can be prosecuted by state law. Criminal law is an area of law that relates to these crimes and punishes people who are convicted. It’s separate from civil law which handles disputes between individuals and awards compensation.
There are two broad types of criminal law in Louisiana: misdemeanors and felonies.
Misdemeanors are considered lower-level offenses and include traffic offenses and petty theft with penalties that are generally no more than one year in jail. Felonies are considered much more serious and include homicide, arson, robbery, and violent crimes.
In Louisiana, the most common crimes are property crimes such as theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. There are also more than 15,000 reported aggravated assaults per year and about 500 homicides committed each year.