{"id":175873,"date":"2025-11-09T09:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T06:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-tjazhkim-prestupleniem-i-prostupkom\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T14:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:59:17","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-a-felony-and-a-misdemeanor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-tjazhkim-prestupleniem-i-prostupkom\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>A serious crime differs from a minor offence primarily in the gravity of the act and the severity of the punishment: a minor offence is an act punishable by arrest, restriction of liberty, a fine (usually up to 5,000 zlotys) or a reprimand, while a serious crime entails more severe punishments, including imprisonment.<\/strong> In Polish law, crimes are primarily defined in the Criminal Code, while minor offenses are defined in the Code of Minor Offenses. The rules of liability, statutes of limitations, and the inclusion of information in criminal records also differ.<\/p>\n<p> To sum it up<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Punishments:<\/strong> For a minor offense, the punishment is arrest (5\u201330 days), restriction of freedom (1 month), a fine, or a reprimand; for a felony, imprisonment.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Separation:<\/strong> Crimes are divided into serious crimes and misdemeanors, with misdemeanors forming a separate, lighter category.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Guilt:<\/strong> A crime may generally be committed intentionally or unintentionally; an unintentional crime is punishable only if so provided by law.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Consequences:<\/strong> A conviction for a crime is entered into the National Criminal Registry, while for a minor offense the penalty is only imprisonment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2> What is a crime?<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>Crime<\/strong> \u2014 is an act prohibited under penalty under the law in effect at the time of its commission, constituting a criminal offense and causing significant harm to society (Article 1 of the Criminal Code). The Criminal Code divides crimes into two groups (Article 7):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Crimes<\/strong> \u2013 acts punishable by imprisonment for at least three years or a more severe punishment. The crime can only be committed intentionally.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Minor offenses<\/strong> \u2013 actions punishable by a fine exceeding 30 daily rates or 5,000 zlotys, restriction of liberty for a period exceeding one month, or imprisonment for a period exceeding one month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> The Criminal Code provides for penalties in the form of fines, restriction of liberty, imprisonment, and life imprisonment (Article 32). Crimes include theft of property valued at over statutory minimums, robbery, fraud, and drunk driving.<\/p>\n<h2> What is a petty offense?<\/h2>\n<p> According to Article 1 of the Code of Minor Offences, <strong>misdemeanor<\/strong> is considered a socially harmful act prohibited by the law in force at the time of its commission <strong>, punishable by arrest, restriction of liberty, a fine of up to 5,000 zlotys or a reprimand<\/strong> . Punishments for misdemeanors are significantly more lenient:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Period of detention<\/strong> \u2013 from 5 to 30 days.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Restriction of freedom<\/strong> \u2013 1 month, including the obligation to perform unpaid work under supervision for social purposes.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Fine<\/strong> \u2013 usually from 20 to 5,000 zlotys; for certain traffic violations, the law increases the upper limit to 30,000 zlotys.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Rebuke<\/strong> - the most lenient punishment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Typical offenses include speeding, disturbing sleep, polluting the environment, and petty theft. In many cases classified as minor offenses, a fine is imposed instead of a court hearing. <strong>fine<\/strong> . The fine may be accepted or rejected, in which case the case is referred to court.<\/p>\n<h2> Crime and misdemeanor are the most important differences.<\/h2>\n<h3> Value limit: theft up to 800 zlotys.<\/h3>\n<p> The same type of act can be classified as a minor offense or a serious crime, depending on its value. According to Article 119 of the Criminal Procedure Code, theft or appropriation of another person&#039;s movable property worth <strong>no more than 800 zlotys<\/strong> is a minor offense. If the value exceeds this amount, the act becomes a crime under the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n<h3> Intention and attempt<\/h3>\n<p> An offense may be committed either intentionally or unintentionally, unless the law provides for liability only for intentional acts (Article 5 of the Criminal Code). Under criminal law, a crime may only be committed intentionally, while an unintentional offense is punishable only if so provided by law (Article 8 of the Criminal Code). Liability for an attempted offense arises only when expressly provided for by law\u2014as, for example, in the case of theft under Article 119 of the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n<h3> Statute of limitations and criminal record<\/h3>\n<p> A minor crime ceases to be punishable one year after its commission, or, if a criminal case is initiated during this time, two years after the expiration of this period (Article 45 of the Criminal Code). The statute of limitations for crimes is significantly longer: from 5 years for less serious crimes to 40 years for murder (Article 101 of the Criminal Code). The charge of committing a crime is entered in <strong>National Criminal Registry<\/strong> , whereas in the case of a minor crime it is only included if a prison sentence is imposed.<\/p>\n<h2> Comparison Chart: Felony vs. Misdemeanor<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th> Characteristic<\/th>\n<th> Attack<\/th>\n<th> Attack<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Main Act<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Criminal Code (and special laws)<\/td>\n<td> Code of Minor Offenses (and special laws)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Separation<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Crimes and misdemeanors<\/td>\n<td> There is no further division.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Fines<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Fine, restriction of liberty, imprisonment, life imprisonment<\/td>\n<td> Arrest for a period of 5 to 30 days, restriction of freedom for 1 month, fine, reprimand.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Great<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> In daily rates<\/td>\n<td> As a rule, from 20 to 5,000 zlotys (in exceptional cases up to 30,000 zlotys).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Unintentional<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Punishment is provided by law only in appropriate cases.<\/td>\n<td> In principle, this is punishable.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Statute of limitations<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> From 5 to 40 years old<\/td>\n<td> 1 year (2 years after the commencement of the proceedings)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>National Criminal Registry<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Yes<\/td>\n<td> Only in case of imprisonment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Example<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Theft of an item worth more than 800 zlotys.<\/td>\n<td> Theft of an item worth up to 800 zlotys.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2> How do you determine whether an act is a crime or a misdemeanor?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Check which law describes this act<\/strong> The Code of Minor Offenses defines a misdemeanor, while the Criminal Code defines a felony. Both types of offenses may also be described in other laws.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Find out what the punishment is<\/strong> \u2013 if the most severe punishment is arrest, and the fine does not exceed the thresholds established in the Code of Minor Offences, then it is a minor offence.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Pay attention to the cost and consequences<\/strong> \u2013 in the case of theft or misappropriation, the value of the item is decisive; in many cases of road crimes, the consequences (for example, whether anyone was injured) are decisive.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>In a specific case, you should consult a lawyer.<\/strong> \u2013 the classification of an act depends on the details, and regulatory acts may change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the regulations in effect at the time of its preparation. It does not replace the advice of a lawyer or attorney.<\/p>\n<h2> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>Is this an offence punishable?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Yes. A minor offense is punishable by arrest, restriction of liberty, a fine, or a reprimand. Often, the case ends with a fine. However, a person punished for a minor offense is not considered &quot;convicted of a crime.&quot;.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Will this offense be added to your criminal record?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Generally, no. Individuals convicted of minor offenses are only entered into the National Offender Registry if they are sentenced to prison. Fines, reprimands, or penalties are not recorded.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>From what amount is theft considered a crime?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Theft or misappropriation of movable property worth up to 800 zlotys is an offense (Article 119 of the Criminal Procedure Code). If the value exceeds 800 zlotys, the act is a crime under the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>What is the difference between a crime and a misdemeanor?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Both are crimes. A serious crime is an act punishable by imprisonment for at least three years or a more severe sentence, and can only be committed intentionally. A misdemeanor is an act punishable by less severe penalties but exceeding the threshold for a minor offense.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>How many years can a person be held liable for an offense?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> According to the Code of Minor Offenses, a person is held accountable for committing an offense after reaching the age of 17. A similar age limit generally applies to the Criminal Code, which, in exceptional cases for the most serious offenses, provides for criminal liability after the age of 15.<\/p>\n<h2> See also<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> What is the difference between restriction of liberty and imprisonment?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between a collision and an accident?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between public administration and local government?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between an individual and a legal entity?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between arrest and imprisonment?<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A serious crime differs from a minor offense primarily by the gravity of the act and the severity of the punishment: a minor offense is an act punishable by arrest,<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":175874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,20],"tags":[70],"class_list":["post-175873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vopros-otvet","category-fakty","tag-chem-otlichaetsya"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175873"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":175875,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175873\/revisions\/175875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}