Second Chance Index
Menu

Same name, different sentence

What is a class 1 felony?

A class 1 felony is one of the grades states use to rank felonies by how serious they are. 5 states use the name, and each sets its own prison range and fine for it. Here is each one, from the state's own law.

Last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Class 1 felony sentences by state
StatePrisonFineThe law
ArizonaDeath or life imprisonmentClass 1 is first-degree murder.Up to $150,000A.R.S. § 13-1105(D); § 13-801(A)1
ColoradoLifeRange for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2020. The fine table says "No fine" for class 1.None setColo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-401(1)(a)(V.5)2
Illinois4 to 15 yearsSecond degree murder, a Class 1 felony, carries 4 to 20 years. An extended term of 15 to 30 years can be imposed under Section 5-8-2. Probation or conditional discharge can last up to 4 years. The fine rule is in 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(b).Up to $25,000 or the amount set in the offense, whichever is greater730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-30(a), (d), (e); 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(b)3
South DakotaUp to 50 yearsUp to $50,000S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-14
VirginiaLifeLife is the most severe sentence the statute allows; death is not an authorized punishment. Anyone who was 18 or older at the time of the offense and is sentenced to life for a Class 1 felony is not eligible for parole, good conduct allowances, earned sentence credits or conditional release.Up to $100,000Va. Code § 18.2-10(a)5

Why the same name means different things

Each state writes its own criminal code. The letters, numbers and degrees only rank crimes within that state, so a class 1 felony in one state can carry a very different sentence from one next door. A specific crime can also set its own range, and past convictions can raise it. For how a state grades a particular crime, see Is it a felony?

Other felony grades

Sources

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

  1. Arizona: A.R.S. § 13-1105(D); § 13-801(A)
  2. Colorado: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-401(1)(a)(V.5)
  3. Illinois: 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-30(a), (d), (e); 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(b)
  4. South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-1
  5. Virginia: Va. Code § 18.2-10(a)