Charges and sentences
Felony and misdemeanor classes in Oregon
Oregon grades felonies as Class A, B or C (plus unclassified felonies such as murder) and misdemeanors as Class A, B or C (plus unclassified misdemeanors). Violations are fine-only offenses below misdemeanors.1
Checked October 29, 2026 against Oregon's own statutes, then by a second reader. General information, not legal advice.
- What makes it a felony
- In Oregon, a crime is a felony if a law calls it one or if it can be punished by a maximum prison term of more than one year. A misdemeanor can carry no more than one year.1
- Felony theft starts at
- $1,000How theft is graded
- When a DUII is a felony
- DUII is a Class A misdemeanor, but it is a Class C felony if the person has two or more earlier DUII convictions (including similar convictions in another state) in the 10 years before the current offense. Felony DUII carries a mandatory minimum of 90 days of incarceration.2
Felony classes in Oregon
From most to least serious: Class A, Class B, Class C, Unclassified. The sentence is the range the law allows; the judge picks within it.
| Class | Prison | Fine | The law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A felony | Up to 20 yearsMurder and aggravated murder carry a fine of up to $500,000. | Up to $375,000 | ORS 161.605(1), 161.625(1)1 |
| Class B felony | Up to 10 years | Up to $250,000 | ORS 161.605(2), 161.625(1)1 |
| Class C felony | Up to 5 yearsA court can enter a Class C felony conviction as a Class A misdemeanor if it finds a felony conviction would be unduly harsh. | Up to $125,000 | ORS 161.605(3), 161.625(1), 161.7051 |
| Unclassified felony | Set by the law for that crimeMurder and treason are not given a class. A crime defined outside the criminal code with a felony-level sentence is also unclassified. | Set by the law for that crime | ORS 161.535, 161.605(4)1 |
Misdemeanor classes in Oregon
| Class | Jail | Fine | The law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 364 daysA crime with no class or penalty stated is treated as a Class A misdemeanor. | Up to $6,250 | ORS 161.615(1), 161.635(1), 161.555(3)1 |
| Class B misdemeanor | Up to 6 months | Up to $2,500 | ORS 161.615(2), 161.635(1)1 |
| Class C misdemeanor | Up to 30 days | Up to $1,250 | ORS 161.615(3), 161.635(1)1 |
| Unclassified misdemeanor | Set by the law for that crimeA crime defined outside the criminal code with a misdemeanor-level sentence is unclassified. | Set by the law for that crime | ORS 161.555, 161.615(4)1 |
Below a misdemeanor
| Class | Penalty | The law |
|---|---|---|
| Violation | Fine only, up to $2,000 for a Class A violationViolations are classed A to D, with lower maximum fines for the lower classes. | ORS 153.008, 153.0184 |
Good to know
Each Oregon felony and misdemeanor gets its class in the law that defines it, not from a general rule. Crimes defined outside the criminal code are unclassified and carry the sentence their own law sets.1
Some crimes can be punished as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Such a crime counts as a felony until the court imposes a fine or a jail term instead of state prison, or declares it a misdemeanor; then it is a misdemeanor for all purposes.1
When theft is a felony in Oregon
Theft of property worth $1,000 or more is theft in the first degree, a Class C felony. Theft of $100 to under $1,000 is a Class A misdemeanor, and under $100 is a Class C misdemeanor. Theft of $10,000 or more is aggravated theft, a Class B felony. Theft of a firearm or a livestock animal is first-degree theft at any value. A 2026 law raises the felony line to $1,500 (and the misdemeanor lines to $150 and $1,500) for thefts on or after Jan. 1, 2027.3
ORS 164.043, 164.045, 164.055, 164.057; Or. Laws 2026, ch. 14 (HB 4041), §§ 13-15, 18 · Felony theft amounts in every state
DUII in Oregon
Oregon calls it driving while under the influence of intoxicants (DUII).
- Repeat offenses
- DUII is a Class A misdemeanor, but it is a Class C felony if the person has two or more earlier DUII convictions (including similar convictions in another state) in the 10 years before the current offense. Felony DUII carries a mandatory minimum of 90 days of incarceration.
- Which past offenses count
- 10 years before the date of the current offense. After a person has been sentenced for felony DUII, there is no time limit: any later DUII is a felony.
- Other felony versions
- Criminal driving while suspended or revoked is a Class B felony if the license was revoked after a felony DUII conviction, and also if it came from murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide or assault involving a motor vehicle. The same crime is a Class A misdemeanor if the suspension came from a misdemeanor DUII.
ORS 813.010, 813.011, 811.1822 · Felony DUI rules in every state
After a conviction
Common questions
What is a felony in Oregon?
In Oregon, a crime is a felony if a law calls it one or if it can be punished by a maximum prison term of more than one year. A misdemeanor can carry no more than one year.
What is a Class A felony in Oregon?
In Oregon, the prison range for a Class A felony is up to 20 years, and the fine is up to $375,000. Murder and aggravated murder carry a fine of up to $500,000.
What is a Class B felony in Oregon?
In Oregon, the prison range for a Class B felony is up to 10 years, and the fine is up to $250,000.
What is a Class C felony in Oregon?
In Oregon, the prison range for a Class C felony is up to 5 years, and the fine is up to $125,000. A court can enter a Class C felony conviction as a Class A misdemeanor if it finds a felony conviction would be unduly harsh.
What is an unclassified felony in Oregon?
In Oregon, the prison range for an unclassified felony is set by the law for that crime, and the fine is set by the law for that crime. Murder and treason are not given a class. A crime defined outside the criminal code with a felony-level sentence is also unclassified.
What is a Class A misdemeanor in Oregon?
In Oregon, the jail range for a Class A misdemeanor is up to 364 days, and the fine is up to $6,250. A crime with no class or penalty stated is treated as a Class A misdemeanor.
What is a Class B misdemeanor in Oregon?
In Oregon, the jail range for a Class B misdemeanor is up to 6 months, and the fine is up to $2,500.
What is a Class C misdemeanor in Oregon?
In Oregon, the jail range for a Class C misdemeanor is up to 30 days, and the fine is up to $1,250.
What is an unclassified misdemeanor in Oregon?
In Oregon, the jail range for an unclassified misdemeanor is set by the law for that crime, and the fine is set by the law for that crime. A crime defined outside the criminal code with a misdemeanor-level sentence is unclassified.
How much theft is a felony in Oregon?
Theft of property worth $1,000 or more is theft in the first degree, a Class C felony. Theft of $100 to under $1,000 is a Class A misdemeanor, and under $100 is a Class C misdemeanor. Theft of $10,000 or more is aggravated theft, a Class B felony. Theft of a firearm or a livestock animal is first-degree theft at any value. A 2026 law raises the felony line to $1,500 (and the misdemeanor lines to $150 and $1,500) for thefts on or after Jan. 1, 2027.
Is a DUII a felony in Oregon?
DUII is a Class A misdemeanor, but it is a Class C felony if the person has two or more earlier DUII convictions (including similar convictions in another state) in the 10 years before the current offense. Felony DUII carries a mandatory minimum of 90 days of incarceration. Criminal driving while suspended or revoked is a Class B felony if the license was revoked after a felony DUII conviction, and also if it came from murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide or assault involving a motor vehicle. The same crime is a Class A misdemeanor if the suspension came from a misdemeanor DUII.
These are the general ranges in Oregon's sentencing laws. A specific crime can carry its own minimum or maximum, and past convictions can raise the range. This isn't legal advice; a defense lawyer or public defender can tell you what applies to a case.
Spot something out of date? Tell us at contact@secondchanceindex.com.
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "Felony and misdemeanor classes in Oregon" https://secondchanceindex.com/felony-classes/oregon, checked October 29, 2026.
Sources
Each source was opened and checked on October 29, 2026.
- ORS 161.525, 161.545
- ORS 813.010, 813.011, 811.182
- ORS 164.043, 164.045, 164.055, 164.057; Or. Laws 2026, ch. 14 (HB 4041), §§ 13-15, 18
- ORS Chapter 153, Violations and Fines (2025 Edition)Oregon Legislature
- ORS Chapter 811, Rules of the Road for Drivers (2025 Edition)Oregon Legislature
- Enrolled House Bill 4041 (2026), Or. Laws 2026, ch. 14Oregon Legislature
- ORS sections amended or repealed by 2026 Oregon LawsOregon Legislature