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A crime that may require imprisonment in a penitentiary is known as a felony. This classification is significant in the legal system, as felonies are typically more serious offenses and can result in harsher penalties, including longer prison sentences and substantial fines.

Felonies can encompass a wide range of criminal activities, such as murder, robbery, or drug trafficking, and the impact of these crimes is deemed severe enough to justify the possibility of imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary rather than a local jail, which is more common for lesser offenses.

In contrast, misdemeanors are less serious crimes that generally carry penalties such as shorter jail sentences or fines, while petty offenses and infractions usually result in minor penalties, often involving fines or community service, and do not lead to imprisonment. Thus, the distinction between felonies and these other classifications is key in understanding the criminal justice system's approach to various types of crime.