Legal Question in Criminal Law in Minnesota

First, you should know about the difference between a criminal "charge" and a criminal "conviction." A charge is a mere accusation, and means nothing. A conviction is a crime that has been proved and accepted by a court. A "petty misdemeanor" in Minnesota is not a crime, but a civil infraction. Since a "petty misdemeanor" is not a crime, a "petty mismdemeanor" charge is merely an unproven claim of a civil infraction, and is not a "criminal charge." Similarly, a "petty misdemeanor" violation is not a criminal conviction since it is not a crime or "criminal."