Final answer:
A violation of public law is known as a crime, which may include felonies or misdemeanors; other options listed are not correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
An offense committed in violation of a public law is known as a crime. Criminal law involves conduct prohibited by law, for example, felonies or misdemeanors, and the government imposes punishment for such an act. Therefore, the correct answer is not listed among the options provided (A. tort, B. writ of habeas corpus, C. statute, D. defamation), since the offense in question is indeed a crime, which involves a violation of public law. For clarity, a tort is a civil wrong, a writ of habeas corpus is a court order to bring a prisoner to court to determine if their detention is lawful, a statute is a written law passed by a legislative body, and defamation involves harming someone's reputation through false statements.