by 
The Curious Bag
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Most states divide crimes into three categories--infractions, misdemeanors,and felonies, Felonies are the most serious crimes, and carry the most serious consequences.
History
Under the feudal English system, very serious crimes were called felonies. Conviction of a felony would result in a forfeiture of land and property to the king, and, depending on the crime's severity, could even mean banishment or death.
Definition
In the United States, a felony charge refers to any crime whose severity is punishable by more than one year in prison, or by the death penalty.
Non-Violent Felonies
Non-violent felonies include property offenses like burglary, theft, fraud and forgery. They also include drug offenses like possession and trafficking, and white-collar crimes like embezzlement and money-laundering.
Violent Felonies
Violent felonies include crimes like murder, assault, arson, robbery and rape. Only 4 percent of federal felony convictions are for violent crimes.
State Regulations
Whether a crime is a considered a felony is left largely up to individual states. Some states require an indictment by a grand jury to move ahead with felony charges, according to the Columbia Encyclopedia.
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