What is a misdemeanor? A. A crime punishable by imprisonment of less than one year B. A crime punishable by five years of imprisonment C. A first offense D. A conviction dismissed after trial by jury

It A. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to a year behind bars.

A) A crime punishable by imprisonment of less than one year

Explanation:

A misdemeanor crime is a small offense which generally requires no more than a fine or a year in prison, community service, or probation. Misdemeanor crimes can easily become felonies which are more serious crimes with accordingly ramped-up consequences (think murder or forgery/counterfeit). For example, threatening to assault someone would be considered a misdemeanor, but actually committing the assault (especially with an illegal weapon) would be a felony.