Second Chance Index
Menu

Same name, different sentence

What is a class A felony?

A class A felony is one of the grades states use to rank felonies by how serious they are. 18 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 A felony sentences by state
StatePrisonFineThe law
Alabama10 to 99 years, or lifeThe minimum is 20 years if a firearm or deadly weapon was used or attempted, or for a Class A felony sex offense involving a child.Up to $60,000Ala. Code § 13A-5-6(a)(1), (a)(5); § 13A-5-11(a)(1)1
AlaskaUp to 20 yearsFor a first felony conviction the presumptive range is 4 to 7 years (7 to 11 years if the person had a firearm, used a dangerous instrument, or caused serious injury or death, among other cases). It is 10 to 14 years for a second felony and 15 to 20 years for a third.Up to $250,000AS 12.55.125(c); AS 12.55.035(b)(2)2
Arkansas6 to 30 yearsUp to $15,000Ark. Code § 5-4-401(a)(2); § 5-4-201(a)(1)3
Connecticut10 to 25 yearsMurder is 25 years to life. Aggravated sexual assault of a minor (§ 53a-70c) is 25 to 50 years. Murder with special circumstances is life without the possibility of release.Up to $20,000Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a(1)-(4), 53a-414
Delaware15 years to lifeFirst-degree murder is sentenced under § 4209 instead.None set11 Del. C. § 4205(b)(1)5
Hawaii20 years, with the minimum time served set by the Hawaii paroling authorityFor most class A felonies the 20-year term cannot be suspended and probation is not allowed. Class A felonies under the drug law (chapter 712, part IV) and manslaughter are exceptions. A court may impose an extended term of up to life for a class A felony if the person meets one of the extended term criteria.Up to $50,000Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-659, 706-640(1)(a), 706-6616
IowaLifeThe sentence is life in the custody of the Department of Corrections, and a person can be released on parole only if the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years. People who were under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under separate rules in the same section.None setIowa Code § 902.17
Kentucky20 to 50 years, or lifeFine rule: KRS 534.030(1) says to "pay a fine in an amount not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or double his gain". It does not apply to a person found indigent.$1,000 to $10,000, or double the person's gain from the offense if that is greaterKRS 532.060(2)8
Missouri10 to 30 years, or lifeSection 558.002 sets no dollar fine limit for Class A or B felonies. It does let the court fine a person up to double what they gained from the offense.None setMo. Rev. Stat. §§ 558.011(1)(1), 558.0029
New HampshireUp to 15 yearsA felony involving a firearm can carry up to 20 years. The judge sets a maximum, and the minimum can be up to half of it. Fines for individuals come from RSA 651:2, IV(a).Up to $4,000N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 651:2, II(a)10
North CarolinaLife with or without parole, or death, as set by the law for the offenseThe sentence is fixed by the statute for the specific offense, not by the sentencing chart.Set by the judgeN.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.17(c)11
North DakotaUp to 20 yearsThe court may impose prison, the fine, or both.Up to $20,000N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-01(2)12
OregonUp to 20 yearsMurder and aggravated murder carry a fine of up to $500,000.Up to $375,000ORS 161.605(1), 161.625(1)13
South CarolinaUp to 30 yearsNone setS.C. Code § 16-1-20(A)14
South DakotaDeath or lifeA sentence lighter than death or life may not be given. For people under 18 at the time of the offense, the maximum may be a term of years.Up to $50,000S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-115
Tennessee15 to 60 yearsThe fine is set by a jury, "unless otherwise provided by statute."Up to $50,000Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(b)16
WashingtonUp to lifePrison and fine can be combined. These are maximums unless another statute sets a different one.Up to $50,000RCW 9A.20.021(1)(a)17
WisconsinLifeNone setWis. Stat. § 939.50(3)18

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 A 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. Alabama: Ala. Code § 13A-5-6(a)(1), (a)(5); § 13A-5-11(a)(1)
  2. Alaska: AS 12.55.125(c); AS 12.55.035(b)(2)
  3. Arkansas: Ark. Code § 5-4-401(a)(2); § 5-4-201(a)(1)
  4. Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a(1)-(4), 53a-41
  5. Delaware: 11 Del. C. § 4205(b)(1)
  6. Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-659, 706-640(1)(a), 706-661
  7. Iowa: Iowa Code § 902.1
  8. Kentucky: KRS 532.060(2)
  9. Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 558.011(1)(1), 558.002
  10. New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 651:2, II(a)
  11. North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.17(c)
  12. North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-01(2)
  13. Oregon: ORS 161.605(1), 161.625(1)
  14. South Carolina: S.C. Code § 16-1-20(A)
  15. South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-1
  16. Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(b)
  17. Washington: RCW 9A.20.021(1)(a)
  18. Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. § 939.50(3)