Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Petty larceny is when someone steals something that is not worth a lot of money. Each state has a different amount of money that is considered petty larceny. If someone is caught stealing something worth less than that amount, they might get a small fine or go to jail for a short time. This is different from grand larceny, which is when someone steals something worth a lot of money. If someone is caught doing that, they might have to pay a big fine or go to prison for a long time.
Definition: Petty larceny, also known as petty theft, is a type of theft where the value of the stolen property is low. Each state has a specific dollar amount that determines whether a theft is considered petty larceny or not. For example, in Oklahoma, if the value of the stolen property is $1,000 or less, it is considered petty larceny. Petty larceny is usually a misdemeanor and can result in fines or a short jail sentence of less than one year. On the other hand, grand larceny refers to thefts where the value of the stolen property is high. States have a specific dollar amount that determines whether a theft is considered grand larceny or not. The punishments for grand larceny are more severe than petty larceny and may include larger fines and longer sentences in state prison.
Example: If someone steals a candy bar from a convenience store, it would be considered petty larceny because the value of the stolen property is low. However, if someone steals a car, it would be considered grand larceny because the value of the stolen property is high. The punishment for stealing a car would be more severe than stealing a candy bar.
Explanation: The example illustrates the definition of petty larceny by showing that the value of the stolen property determines whether a theft is considered petty or grand larceny. The candy bar is a low-value item, so stealing it would be considered petty larceny. In contrast, stealing a car is a high-value item, so it would be considered grand larceny. The example also shows that the punishment for grand larceny is more severe than petty larceny, which is why stealing a car would result in a longer prison sentence and larger fines than stealing a candy bar.