petty

Small, minor, of less or inconsiderable importance. The English form of "petit," and sometimes used instead of that word in such compounds as "petty jury," "petty larceny," and "petty treason."

See misdemeanor

- petit.

As to petty average

- petty constable

- petty jury

- petty larceny

- petty session

- petty treason, see those titles

@ petty cash

Currency maintained for expenditures that are conveniently made with cash on hand. A fund used by business to pay small expenses for such items as travel, stationery, etc. Sometimes called imprest fund, it is operated by a voucher system in which the person desiring the money submits a voucher properly authorized and receives the cash

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- petty larceny (larceny)

@ petty offense

A minor crime, the maximum punishment for which is generally a fine or short term in jail or house of correction. In some states, it is a classification in addition to misdemeanor and felony.

See e.g. 18 U.S.C.A. No. 19.

A six month sentence is the constitutional dividing line between serious offenses for which a trial by jury must be afforded and petty offenses.

In contempt cases, it is the sentence actually imposed, rather than the penalty authorized by law which is determinative. Codispoti v. Pennsylvania, 418 U.S. 506, 519, 94 S.Ct. 2687, 2694, 41 L.Ed.2d 912.

See also infraction

- misdemeanor

@ petty officers

Inferior officers in the naval service, of various ranks and kinds, corresponding to the non-commissioned officers in the army. U. S. v. Fuller, 160 U.S. 593, 16 S.Ct. 386, 40 L.Ed. 549

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