What constitutes an 'Offense'?

An 'Offense' typically refers to a violation of a statute, which is a written law enacted by a legislative body. This definition encompasses a wide range of unlawful acts that are punishable by formal legal processes. Statutory violations can include felonies, misdemeanors, and other legal infractions, hence making them more serious in nature than minor violations or breaches of civil law.

While minor violations of local ordinances and breaches of civil law can be problematic, they do not fall under the same category as offenses defined by an actual statute. Similarly, a failure to report a crime relates to a duty or obligation rather than being an offense in itself. Thus, the focus on statutes makes the definition of an 'Offense' specifically aligned with the legal framework and precludes the inclusion of other types of violations that do not involve statutory law.