What is the difference between a summary offense and an indictable offense?

In Arizona, a summary offense is a minor criminal offense that is less serious than an indictable offense. Summary offenses are offenses that do not require a trial by jury and usually involve fines or jail sentences of less than six months. An indictable offense is a more serious crime that requires a trial by jury. Indictable offenses are also referred to as felonies and generally carry harsher punishments than summary offenses. In Arizona, an indictable offense is punishable by a minimum of one year in prison. Summary offenses are usually prosecuted by the state, while indictable offenses are typically prosecuted by the county or federal government. A judge usually presides over summary offenses, while an indictable offense is usually heard by a jury. It is important to note that an individual can be charged with both a summary offense and an indictable offense for the same incident. The punishments for summary offenses and indictable offenses can range from probation to a prison sentence. In some cases, a conviction on both could carry consecutive sentences.

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What is the difference between a summary offense and an indictable offense?

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