Final answer:
Minor offenses that don't meet the criteria for a specific infraction may be subject to informal sanctions, such as societal disapproval or verbal reprimands, or formal sanctions, which include legal penalties. The federal system uses guidelines to help determine appropriate penalties for more serious offenses, and plea bargains often resolve charges before trial.
Step-by-step explanation:
When minor offenses do not meet the criteria for specific infractions, they may still be subject to various forms of punishments for violating norms. In some cases, these offenses may lead to informal sanctions, which are a type of punishment that is not officially legislated but is enforced through social interactions. For example, crimes that involve the destruction or theft of property, which don't use force or the threat, might be met with community service or a requirement to pay restitution. Formal sanctions, however, include expulsion from an institution, termination of employment, or legal penalties. It is important to note that many charges are resolved prior to trial through plea bargains, where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge.
When more serious crimes are involved, the process becomes more formal. For example, the federal system uses guidelines that assign point values to various offenses to help determine appropriate legal penalties. Additionally, informal sanctions may include societal disapproval or verbal reprimands for less appropriate public behaviors, though these do not have legal consequences. Ultimately, whether formal or informal, sanctions serve to enforce societal norms and laws.