Crime Penalties

District of Columbia Embezzlement Laws

Embezzlement is a kind of property theft. It occurs when a defendant, who was entrusted to manage or monitor someone else’s money or property,...

Arkansas Embezzlement Laws

Embezzlement is a kind of property theft. It occurs when a defendant, who was entrusted to manage or monitor someone else’s money or property,...

Petty Theft in Wisconsin: Penalties and Defense

Like many states, Wisconsin classifies its theft offenses according to the value of the property or services stolen -- and in some cases, accordin...

Petty Theft in Wyoming: Penalties and Defense

Wyoming refers to the crime of theft and most theft-related offenses as “larceny.” According to applicable criminal statutes, larceny is com...

Petty Theft in Washington: Penalties and Defense

Theft is committed in the Washington when someone wrongfully takes or obtains property with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of that pro...

Petty Theft in West Virginia: Penalties and Defense

In West Virginia statutes on criminal law, theft is referred to as “larceny,” a term used interchangeably with “theft” in many states. In ...

Petty Theft in Virginia: Penalties and Defense

Virginia law simply refers to all theft and theft-related crimes as “larceny,” and provides no general definition of the term. It’s safe to ...

Petty Theft in Vermont: Penalties and Defense

Vermont law defines theft as the stealing of property that is owned by another person -- including money, goods, bank notes, bonds, and public rec...

Petty Theft in Utah: Penalties and Defense

Utah, like many other states, classifies its theft offenses primarily according to the value of the property or services involved in the offense...

Petty Theft in Tennessee: Penalties and Defense

Tennessee criminal statutes say that “a person commits theft of property if, with intent to deprive the owner of property, the person knowingly ...

Petty Theft in Texas: Penalties and Defense

Like the majority of states, Texas classifies its theft offenses according to the value of the stolen property or services -- and in some instan...

Petty Theft in South Dakota: Penalties and Defense

Like many other states, South Dakota classifies its theft offenses according to the value of the property taken -- and in some circumstances, by t...

Petty Theft in Rhode Island: Penalties and Defense

The crime of theft in Rhode Island can generally be defined as the wrongful taking of anything of value, with the intent to deprive the true owner...

Petty Theft in South Carolina: Penalties and Defense

South Carolina law does not give a general definition of theft, but refers to all theft offenses as “larceny” -- the theft of goods, bank bill...

Petty Theft in Oregon: Penalties and Defense

Like most other states, Oregon classifies theft offenses according to the value of the property taken -- and sometimes by the circumstances surr...

Petty Theft in Pennsylvania: Penalties and Defense

Pennsylvania defines its theft offenses according to whether the theft involves property that is movable and tangible on the one hand, or immovabl...

Petty Theft in Oklahoma: Penalties and Defense

Oklahoma law defines larceny, or theft, as the taking of personal property accomplished by fraud or stealth, and with intent to deprive another th...

Petty Theft in North Dakota: Penalties and Defense

Under North Dakota law, a person has committed the offense of theft by: knowingly taking or exercising unauthorized control over the property of ano...

Petty Theft in Ohio: Penalties and Defense

Under Ohio law, theft is committed through the unauthorized taking of property, when the offender acts with the intent to permanently deprive the owne...

Petty Theft in North Carolina: Penalties and Defense

North Carolina criminal statutes refer to most theft crimes as “larceny,” and unless a specific law says otherwise, larceny is considered a felony...

Petty Theft in New Mexico: Penalties and Defense

New Mexico criminal statutes use the term “larceny” to encompass theft crimes. Larceny is defined as “the stealing of anything of value that bel...

Petty Theft in New York: Penalties and Defense

New York criminal laws use the term “larceny” to describe theft laws. In New York, larceny occurs when a person “wrongfully takes, obtains or wi...

Petty Theft in New Hampshire: Penalties and Defense

According to New Hampshire criminal statutes, theft is committed when a person obtains or exercises unauthorized control over property that belongs to...

Petty Theft in New Jersey: Penalties and Defense

New Jersey criminal statutes define theft as the “unlawful taking” or “exercising of control” over someone else’s property. The offender...

Petty Theft in Nevada: Penalties and Defense

Nevada criminal statutes provide a detailed definition of theft that encompasses a number of specific actions. These laws state that a person co...

Petty Theft in Montana: Penalties and Defense

In Montana, a person commits theft by "purposely or knowingly" taking property that belongs to another person, and doing so with the intent to deprive...

Petty Theft in Nebraska: Penalties and Defense

A person commits theft under Nebraska law by: 1. taking or exercising control over the movable property of another, with the intent to deprive the own...

Petty Theft in Missouri: Penalties and Defense

A person commits theft under Missouri law by appropriating (taking) the property or services of another, with the intent to deprive the owner, without...

Petty Theft in Minnesota: Penalties and Defense

Minnesota criminal statutes list a number of specific actions that, when committed, would constitute the offense of theft.

Petty Theft in Mississippi: Penalties and Defense

Theft, which is known as larceny under Mississippi law, is generally defined as the felonious taking, stealing, or carrying away of the property of an...

Petty Theft in Michigan: Penalties and Defense

Michigan criminal laws refer to the general crime of theft as "larceny." A person commits larceny in Michigan is he or she steals property that b...

Petty Theft in Maryland: Penalties and Defense

Under Maryland criminal statutes, theft occurs when a person knowingly exerts unauthorized control over property.

Petty Theft in Massachusetts: Penalties and Defense

Massachusetts criminal statutes define larceny simply as stealing the property of another.

Petty Theft in Maine: Penalties and Defense

Maine criminal statutes define theft as "obtaining or exercising unauthorized control over the property of another with intent to deprive the othe...

Petty Theft in Kentucky: Penalties and Defense

Like most states, Kentucky classifies any theft offense as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

Petty Theft in Louisiana: Penalties and Defense

Louisiana criminal statutes defines theft as the taking anything of value which belongs to another person, either without the consent of the other...

Petty Theft in Kansas: Penalties and Defense

Like many states, Kansas classifies its theft offenses according to the dollar value of the property or services involved in the offense -- the ...

Petty Theft in District of Columbia: Penalties and Defense

Defining Theft in the District of Columbia In the District of Columbia, a person commits the offense of theft when he or she "wrongfully obtain...

Petty Theft in Delaware: Penalties and Defense

Petty theft generally involves the theft of an item, property or money that is of a small value. In Delaware, the penalties for a petty theft convic...

Petty Theft in Connecticut: Penalties and Defense

Connecticut can be considered to have higher flexibility when it comes to sentencing for petty theft. Some consider the state as nicer compared to o...

Petty Theft in Colorado: Penalties and Defense

According to Colorado statutes on criminal law, theft occurs when a person “knowingly obtains or exercises control over" anything of value (i.e....

Petty Theft in Arkansas: Penalties and Defense

Under Arkansas law, theft occurs when a person knowingly takes another person’s property with the intent of depriving the owner of the property. ...

Petty Theft in California: Penalties and Defense

The California theft statute defines theft as the intentional and unlawful taking of property. In order for a theft to occur, the offender must h...

Petty Theft in Arizona: Penalties and Defense

In the state of Arizona, a person commits the crime of theft by knowingly, and without lawful authority to do so, taking any of the following ac...

Petty Theft in Alaska: Penalties and Defense

Alaska law defines theft as a crime that occurs when "with intent to deprive another of property or to appropriate property of another to oneself...

Petty Theft in Alabama: Penalties and Defense

Alabama law defines theft as “Knowingly obtain[ing] or exert[ing] unauthorized control over the property of another, with intent to deprive the ...

Kansas Criminal Sentencing

Sentencing in Kansas can be very complicated. There are many little nuances depending on the nature of each case and the circumstances surroundi...

Wyoming Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws & Penalties

A minor in Wyoming may not buy (or attempt to buy), solicit someone else to buy, possess, or consume alcohol; or knowingly provide false informa...

Wisconsin Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP) Laws

A minor in Wisconsin may not possess or consume alcohol, falsely represent the minor’s age to obtain alcohol, or enter an establishment licensed...

West Virginia Minor in Possession of Alcohol Laws

A minor younger than 21 in West Virginia may not buy, possess, consume, or sell alcohol, with few exceptions.

Virginia Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws & Penalties

A minor in Virginia may not buy (or attempt to buy), possess, or consume alcohol; or provide false identification or a false age to obtain or cons...

Washington Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws & Penalties

A minor in Washington may not buy (or attempt to buy), possess, consume alohol, or be intoxicated in public, with few exceptions.

Vermont Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws & Penalties

A minor in Vermont may not possess or consume alcohol; or falsely represent the minor’s age to obtain alcohol. However, a minor older than 16 ma...

Utah Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws and Penalties

A minor in Utah may not buy (or attempt to buy, or ask an adult to buy), possess, or consume alcohol; or knowingly misrepresent a minor’s or som...

Texas MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in Texas may not buy, possess, or consume alcohol; or knowingly provide false information to obtain alcohol. It is also illegal for adults to ...

Tennessee Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws & Penalties

A minor in Tennessee may not buy (or attempt to buy), possess, transport, or consume alcohol; or knowingly provide false information to obtain a...

South Carolina Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws and Penalties

A minor in South Carolina may not buy (or attempt to buy), possess, or consume alcohol; or knowingly provide false information to obtain alcohol. ...

South Dakota Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Laws & Penalties

A minor in South Dakota may not buy (or attempt to buy), possess, or consume alcohol; or knowingly provide false information to obtain alcohol.

Rhode Island MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in Rhode Island may not buy, attempt to buy, or knowingly use false identification (or other misrepresentations about that minor’s or ...

Pennsylvania Minor in Possession of Alcohol Laws

A minor in Pennsylvania may not buy (or attempt to buy), possess, or knowingly and intentionally transport alcohol; or knowingly use false identificat...

Oklahoma MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor younger than 21 in Oklahoma may not purchase, possess or consume alcohol—including "low-point beer," containing more than one half of one pe...

Oregon MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in Oregon may not buy (or attempt to buy) alcohol, or have alcohol in the minor’s possession. It is also illegal for a minor to enter an est...

Ohio MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor younger than 21 in Ohio may not buy, share the cost of, possess, consume, handle, or be under the influence of alcohol, with few excepti...

North Dakota Minor in Possession of Alcohol: Law & Penalties

A minor in North Dakota may not manufacture, purchase, possess, consume, be under the influence of alcohol (or attempt to do these things); or e...

North Carolina MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in North Carolina may not purchase, possess, or consume alcohol with few exceptions. It is also illegal for anyone to sell or give alcohol to ...

New York MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in New York may not purchase or possess alcohol with the intent to consume it, with few exceptions. It is also illegal for anyone to furni...

New Mexico Minor in Possession of Alcohol Laws and Penalties

A minor in New Mexico may not buy (or attempt to buy), receive, possess, or allow alcohol to be served to the minor, with few exceptions. It is al...

New Jersey MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in New Jersey may not purchase, knowingly possess, or knowingly consume alcohol with few exceptions (see below).

Nevada MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

In Nevada, it is illegal for any person younger than 21 to possess alcohol in a public place. In most situations, it is also illegal for any minor...

New Hampshire MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Any minor who violates this statute for the first time will be charged with a violation and forced to pay a fine of at least $300 and the court wi...

Montana MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Like other states, Montana has minor in possession of alcohol laws (“MIP” laws) to discourage under-age drinking. MIP laws seek to deter minors ...

Nebraska MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Legal Age for Drinking or Possessing Alcohol In Nebraska it is illegal for anyone younger than 21 years old to possess, consume, sell, or dispense ...

Missouri MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Legal Age For Drinking or Possessing Alcohol In Missouri, it is illegal for any person younger than 21 years old to possess, purchase, or attemp...

Mississippi MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Minnesota MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

In Minnesota, it is illegal for any person younger than 21 years old to consume an alcoholic beverage (with some exceptions, see below). It is als...

Michigan MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in Michigan may not purchase, consume, or possess alcoholic liquor—or attempt to do so--with few exceptions (see below). (Mich. Comp. La...

Massachusetts MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in Massachusetts may not purchase, attempt to purchase, or arrange for someone else to purchase alcoholic liquor on the minor’s behalf, ...

Maryland MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

A minor in Maryland may not possess, consume, or provide false documentation of age to purchase alcoholic liquor, with few exceptions (see below...

Louisiana MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

The State of Louisiana has enacted minor in possession (MIP) laws to discourage underage minors from consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages i...

Maine Minor in Possession of Alcohol Charges and Penalties

A minor in Maine may not purchase, consume, or possess alcoholic liquor, or “imitation liquor,” with few exceptions. Imitation liquor contains...

Kentucky MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Kentucky has minor in possession (MIP) laws designed to discourage minors from possessing or consuming alcohol. Here is a summary of some of Kentu...

Iowa MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Iowa has minor in possession (MIP) laws to discourage and punish underage drinking and the possession of alcohol by minors. Those under the age of...

Kansas MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Indiana MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

It is illegal in Indiana for any person under the age of 21 to knowingly consume or possess an alcoholic beverage. In addition, minors are prohibited ...

Idaho MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Idaho has enforces minor in possession (MIP) laws to discourage underage drinking and the possession of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21.

Illinois MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

The State of Illinois has strict laws regarding minors possessing or consuming alcohol. Anyone who is charged with violating the minor in possessi...

Hawaii MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

Hawaii has minor in possession (MIP) laws to prevent underage drinking. You must be at least 21 years to consume or possess alcohol in Hawaii. However...

Florida MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

The State of Florida prohibits anyone the age of 21 from possessing any type of alcoholic beverage. However, these minor in possession (MIP) laws ...

Georgia MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

The State of Georgia has minor in possession (MIP) laws to prevent anyone under the age of 21 to consume or possess alcoholic beverages. These laws se...

District of Columbia MIP Charges: Underage Alcohol Possession

The District of Columbia has minor in possession (MIP) laws that make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume, possess, or purchase any t...