# In states that differentiate different categories of felonies, what do they mean?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 5, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453 "2006-04-05T18:25:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453/1 "2006-04-05T18:25:50Z")
You know how, for example, when watching _Law And Order_, you’ll hear someone being arraigned on a charge, and the complaint or indictment will say the defendant violated such-and-such section of the Penal Code, and that the section is a “Class 5 felony” or some such. What do these classes mean? Is a Class 1 felony more grievous than a Class 5 felony, or does it work the other way around?
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453/2 "2006-04-05T18:29:48Z")
In Virginia, the first one I googled, it goes as follows [1]:
‘The authorized punishments for conviction of a felony are:
a. For Class 1 felonies, death, or imprisonment for life and a fine of up to $100,000.
b. For Class 2 felonies, imprisonment for life or a minimum of 20 years and a fine of up to $100,000.
c. For Class 3 felonies, imprisonment for five to 20 years and a fine of up to $100,000.
d. For Class 4 felonies, imprisonment for two to 10 years and a fine of up to $100,000…’
[1] [http://www.abc.state.va.us/facts/punish.html](http://www.abc.state.va.us/facts/punish.html)
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453/3 "2006-04-05T18:42:49Z")
Since this is a Law & Order-inspired question:
And in the case of New York State, the various felony classes are outlined below, along with the oddball distinction between A-I and class A-II felonies.
Sadly, no sentencing chart. It is apparent that class A includes murder, and is thus more serious than classes following it in alphabetical order.
[http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/NewYork/ny1-2.htm#art55](http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/NewYork/ny1-2.htm#art55)
Below I found a sentencing chart. Apparently this was created after the law changed. It could have changed again. It’s missing misdemeanors, but I’ve never seen Jack McCoy in court trying to get a conviction for public urination, either.
[http://www.communityalternatives.org/articles/sentencing\_chart.html](http://www.communityalternatives.org/articles/sentencing_chart.html)
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Hi ZipperJJ!
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453/4 "2006-04-05T20:07:17Z")
Indiana has A, B, C & D degree felonies with A (intentional murder for example) being the worst and D (vehicular homicide) being the least. sentences vary. I think D is 1.5-4 years in prison, I don’t remember what the others stand for in regards to punishment.
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### Author:  [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453/5 "2006-04-05T20:28:43Z")
Like all other states, New York has a [Penal Law](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/nycodes/c82.html) that defines the specific criminal offenses one may be charged with. Each crime (e.g. Manslaughter), and each degree of a crime (e.g. Manslaughter in the second degree) is defined and assigned an offense class (e.g. Class C felony, Class B misdemeanor). The felonies range from Class A-I (the most serious) to Class E (the least serious), and misdemeanors are either Class A (more serious) or Class B. Below them are violations.
In New York, felons are given indeterminate sentences for a minimum to maximum range of years (e.g. three and a third to ten years). Although there are adjustments for things like persistent felon status, some specific crimes and other factors, the basic sentencing requirements are found in [Penal Law sec. 70.00](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/nycodes/c82/a18.html), as follows:
Class A-I felony: Maximum must be life. Minimum may be from 15 to 25 years.
Class A-II felony: Maximum must be life. Minimum may be from 3 to 8-1/3 years.
Class B felony: Maximum may be from 3 to 25 years. Mimimum may be from one year to one-third of the maximum.
Class C felony: Maximum may be from 3 to 15 years. Mimimum may be from one year to one-third of the maximum.
Class D felony: Maximum may be from 3 to 7 years. Mimimum may be from one year to one-third of the maximum.
Class E felony: Maximum may be from 3 to 4 years. Mimimum may be from one year to one-third of the maximum.
For misdemeanors, generally, a Class A misdemeanor may get a fixed sentence of up to one year, a Class B misdemeanor gets a fixed sentence of up to three months, and a violation can be sentenced to up to 15 days.
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### Author:  [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-states-that-differentiate-different-categories-of-felonies-what-do-they-mean/351453/6 "2006-04-05T21:29:56Z")
> [@Mr. Slant](#):
>
> … but I’ve never seen Jack McCoy in court trying to get a conviction for public urination, either.
You missed a great episode.