What is a Class C misdemeanor in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the jail range for a Class C misdemeanor is up to 30 days, and the fine is up to $500.

Is an OWI a felony in Wisconsin?

A fourth OWI is a Class H felony. A fifth or sixth is a Class G felony, a seventh to ninth is a Class F felony, and a tenth or later is a Class E felony. A first OWI is punished by a forfeiture (a fine of $150 to $300), which is not a crime in Wisconsin, unless a child under 16 was in the vehicle. A second and a third OWI carry jail time but are not felonies. Homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle is a Class D felony, or a Class C felony with a prior conviction, suspension or revocation. Injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle (great bodily harm) is a Class F felony. A third or later OWI with a passenger under 16 is a felony, and the penalties are doubled; a first OWI with such a passenger carries 5 days to 6 months in jail.

Charges and sentences

Felony and misdemeanor classes in Wisconsin

Wisconsin grades felonies from Class A (the most serious) down to Class I and misdemeanors as Class A, B or C. A crime has a class only when the law that creates it names one. Lesser violations are forfeitures, which are monetary penalties without jail, graded Class A through E.¹

Checked October 29, 2026 against Wisconsin's own statutes, then by a second reader. General information, not legal advice.

What makes it a felony: In Wisconsin, a crime that can be punished by imprisonment in the state prisons is a felony. Every other crime is a misdemeanor.¹
Felony theft starts at: More than $2,500How theft is graded
When a OWI is a felony: A fourth OWI is a Class H felony. A fifth or sixth is a Class G felony, a seventh to ninth is a Class F felony, and a tenth or later is a Class E felony. A first OWI is punished by a forfeiture (a fine of $150 to $300), which is not a crime in Wisconsin, unless a child under 16 was in the vehicle. A second and a third OWI carry jail time but are not felonies.²

Felony classes in Wisconsin

From most to least serious: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, Class E, Class F, Class G, Class H, Class I. The sentence is the range the law allows; the judge picks within it.

Felony classes in Wisconsin, with prison ranges and fines
Class	Prison	Fine	The law
Class A felony	Life	None set	Wis. Stat. § 939.50(3)⁷
Class B felony	Up to 60 yearsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 40 years, followed by up to 20 years of extended supervision.	None set	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷
Class C felony	Up to 40 yearsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 25 years, followed by up to 15 years of extended supervision.	Up to $100,000	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷
Class D felony	Up to 25 yearsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 15 years, followed by up to 10 years of extended supervision.	Up to $100,000	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷
Class E felony	Up to 15 yearsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 10 years, followed by up to 5 years of extended supervision.	Up to $50,000	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷
Class F felony	Up to 12 years and 6 monthsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 7 years and 6 months, followed by up to 5 years of extended supervision.	Up to $25,000	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷
Class G felony	Up to 10 yearsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 5 years, followed by up to 5 years of extended supervision.	Up to $25,000	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷
Class H felony	Up to 6 yearsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 3 years, followed by up to 3 years of extended supervision.	Up to $10,000	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷
Class I felony	Up to 3 years and 6 monthsThis is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 1 year and 6 months, followed by up to 2 years of extended supervision.	Up to $10,000	Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)⁷

Misdemeanor classes in Wisconsin

Misdemeanor classes in Wisconsin, with jail ranges and fines
Class	Jail	Fine	The law
Class A misdemeanor	Up to 9 months	Up to $10,000	Wis. Stat. § 939.51(3)⁸
Class B misdemeanor	Up to 90 days	Up to $1,000	Wis. Stat. § 939.51(3)⁸
Class C misdemeanor	Up to 30 days	Up to $500	Wis. Stat. § 939.51(3)⁸

Below a misdemeanor

Non-criminal offenses in Wisconsin
Class	Penalty	The law
Class A forfeiture	Forfeiture (a monetary penalty, no jail) of up to $10,000	Wis. Stat. § 939.52(3)⁹
Class B forfeiture	Forfeiture (a monetary penalty, no jail) of up to $1,000	Wis. Stat. § 939.52(3)⁹
Class C forfeiture	Forfeiture (a monetary penalty, no jail) of up to $500	Wis. Stat. § 939.52(3)⁹
Class D forfeiture	Forfeiture (a monetary penalty, no jail) of up to $200	Wis. Stat. § 939.52(3)⁹
Class E forfeiture	Forfeiture (a monetary penalty, no jail) of up to $25	Wis. Stat. § 939.52(3)⁹

Good to know

Felony maximums are the total length of a bifurcated sentence: time in prison plus extended supervision in the community afterward. A separate law caps the prison part, for example at 3 years of a Class H felony's 6-year maximum.³

If a misdemeanor law sets no penalty, the person may be fined not more than $500 or jailed not more than 30 days, or both.⁴

Forfeitures are graded separately from crimes, from Class A (up to $10,000) to Class E (up to $25). Conduct punishable only by a forfeiture is not a crime in Wisconsin.⁵

When theft is a felony in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, theft of property worth more than $2,500 is a felony. It is a Class I felony up to $5,000, Class H up to $10,000, Class G up to $100,000 and Class F above $100,000. At $2,500 or less it is a Class A misdemeanor, but since a 2026 change it can be charged as a Class I felony if the person has a prior theft conviction. Some items, such as firearms, carry felony penalties at any value.⁶

Wis. Stat. § 943.20(3), (3g) · Felony theft amounts in every state

OWI in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's statute is titled operating under influence of intoxicant or other drug, usually called operating while intoxicated (OWI). It covers driving under the influence, with a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance, or with a prohibited alcohol concentration.

Repeat offenses: A fourth OWI is a Class H felony. A fifth or sixth is a Class G felony, a seventh to ninth is a Class F felony, and a tenth or later is a Class E felony. A first OWI is punished by a forfeiture (a fine of $150 to $300), which is not a crime in Wisconsin, unless a child under 16 was in the vehicle. A second and a third OWI carry jail time but are not felonies.
Which past offenses count: Wisconsin counts the total number of earlier OWI-type convictions, suspensions and revocations. For a third or later offense there is no time limit. A second offense is counted as a second only if the earlier one falls within 10 years, or is an earlier homicide or injury by intoxicated use conviction. Violations in other states count.
Other felony versions: Homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle is a Class D felony, or a Class C felony with a prior conviction, suspension or revocation. Injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle (great bodily harm) is a Class F felony. A third or later OWI with a passenger under 16 is a felony, and the penalties are doubled; a first OWI with such a passenger carries 5 days to 6 months in jail.

Wis. Stat. §§ 343.307(1), 346.63(1), 346.65(2)(am), 346.65(2)(f), 939.12, 940.09, 940.25² · Felony DUI rules in every state

After a conviction

Clearing or sealing a record in Wisconsin: who qualifies, the wait and how to file.
Voting after a felony in Wisconsin
How long a felony or misdemeanor stays on your record

Common questions

What is a felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, a crime that can be punished by imprisonment in the state prisons is a felony. Every other crime is a misdemeanor.

What is a Class A felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class A felony is life.

What is a Class B felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class B felony is up to 60 years. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 40 years, followed by up to 20 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class C felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class C felony is up to 40 years, and the fine is up to $100,000. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 25 years, followed by up to 15 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class D felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class D felony is up to 25 years, and the fine is up to $100,000. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 15 years, followed by up to 10 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class E felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class E felony is up to 15 years, and the fine is up to $50,000. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 10 years, followed by up to 5 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class F felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class F felony is up to 12 years and 6 months, and the fine is up to $25,000. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 7 years and 6 months, followed by up to 5 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class G felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class G felony is up to 10 years, and the fine is up to $25,000. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 5 years, followed by up to 5 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class H felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class H felony is up to 6 years, and the fine is up to $10,000. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 3 years, followed by up to 3 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class I felony in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the prison range for a Class I felony is up to 3 years and 6 months, and the fine is up to $10,000. This is the total sentence. Prison confinement is capped at 1 year and 6 months, followed by up to 2 years of extended supervision.

What is a Class A misdemeanor in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the jail range for a Class A misdemeanor is up to 9 months, and the fine is up to $10,000.

What is a Class B misdemeanor in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, the jail range for a Class B misdemeanor is up to 90 days, and the fine is up to $1,000.

These are the general ranges in Wisconsin'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.

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Cite this page

Second Chance Index, "Felony and misdemeanor classes in Wisconsin" https://secondchanceindex.com/felony-classes/wisconsin, checked October 29, 2026.

Sources

Each source was opened and checked on October 29, 2026.

Wis. Stat. § 939.60
Wis. Stat. §§ 343.307(1), 346.63(1), 346.65(2)(am), 346.65(2)(f), 939.12, 940.09, 940.25
Wis. Stat. § 973.01(2)(a), (b)
Wis. Stat. § 939.61(2)
Wis. Stat. §§ 939.12, 939.52
Wis. Stat. § 943.20(3), (3g)
939.50 Classification of feloniesWisconsin State Legislature
939.51 Classification of misdemeanorsWisconsin State Legislature
939.52 Classification of forfeituresWisconsin State Legislature
346.63 Operating under influence of intoxicant or other drugWisconsin State Legislature
940.09 Homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle or firearmWisconsin State Legislature
940.25 Injury by intoxicated use of a vehicleWisconsin State Legislature
343.307 Prior convictions, suspensions or revocations to be counted as offensesWisconsin State Legislature
2025 Wisconsin Act 106Wisconsin State Legislature