In [[law]], an '''offence''' is a violation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_law penal law]. An offence can range from a simple [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misdemeanor misdemeanour] (e.g. a traffic violation) to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony 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. | In [[law]], an '''offence''' is a violation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_law penal law]. An offence can range from a simple [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misdemeanor misdemeanour] (e.g. a traffic violation) to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony 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. |