Forty common charges in plain English — what each one means, what the prosecution has to prove, and the typical range. Document preparation, not a law firm — this is not legal advice.
Read first — this information is general.
Criminal law is state law. The same conduct can have a different name, a different classification, and a very different penalty in different states. "Battery" in one state is part of "assault" in another. A first offense in one state can be a felony in the next.
The name on the citation or complaint is what counts. The entries below use the most common names. A real charge sheet may use a different label for the same behavior.
Penalty ranges here are typical ranges, not promises. Actual exposure depends on the exact charge, the person's record, enhancements (weapons, injuries, prior convictions), and the judge and prosecutor in the case.
Classification shorthand used below: Infraction = a minor violation, usually a fine only, no jail, often not a "crime" at all. Petty misdemeanor = the lowest crime level in many states (in New Mexico, up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine up to $500). Misdemeanor = a crime punishable by up to about a year in county jail. Felony = a crime punishable by more than a year, usually in state prison, with lasting effects on voting, firearms, housing, and employment.
New Mexico examples are marked "NM example." New Mexico's versions are included because they are well established; they do not control anywhere else. ---
Charges, classifications, and penalties vary by state — sometimes a lot. The citation or complaint in a real case is the document that counts.
Traffic and DUI
Theft and Property
Assault and Battery
Naming warning: States split these two ideas differently. Some states have only "assault" (which includes hitting). Some have only "battery." New Mexico has both, with specific meanings — assault is the attempt or threat, battery is the actual unlawful touching.
Drug Possession
Big picture warning: Drug law is the fastest-changing area in this library. Marijuana is the clearest example — recreationally legal in a growing list of states (including New Mexico, for adults 21+ within limits), a civil fine in others, and still a crime in some. Amount thresholds and felony lines also change often. Treat every drug entry as a starting point and check the current law of the state involved.
Disorderly Conduct and Public Offenses
Domestic-Related Offenses
Shared reality for this category: Domestic charges usually come with immediate extras — emergency protective orders, no-contact conditions, firearm restrictions while the case is open, and possible effects on custody cases running in family court at the same time. Those extras often matter more day-to-day than the charge level itself.
Weapons
Fraud and False Statements
Failure to Appear and Court-Order Offenses
Document preparation, not a law firm — this is not legal advice.