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In law, an offence is a violation of the penal law. An offence can range from a simple misdemeanor (e.g. a traffic violation) to a felony (e.g. capital murder). In common law usage, 'offence' differs from 'crime' in that there is typically no victim, but the action remains prohibited by statute.

References

• Ontario Women's Justice Network: Legal Glossary
• Robertson Hyetts Solicitors: Legal Terms

See also

• crime
• felony
• misdemeanor
• infraction
• indictable offence
• summary offence

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