Which of the following describes a misdemeanor?

A misdemeanor is typically defined as a type of crime that is considered less severe than a felony. In the legal system, misdemeanors carry lighter penalties, which often include lesser fines and shorter jail sentences, usually less than one year. This categorization allows the judicial system to distinguish between more serious offenses, such as felonies, which can involve significant harm or danger to society and come with harsher penalties.

Other choices may touch upon aspects related to crimes but do not accurately define a misdemeanor. Serious crimes with severe penalties refer primarily to felonies, which are categorized separately from misdemeanors. Physical assault resulting in injury could qualify for either classification depending on the extent of the assault and can often be a felony if severe enough. Traffic violations only encompass a specific area of misdemeanors and do not represent the broad spectrum of offenses that can be considered misdemeanors as a whole.