Same name, different sentence
What is a class C felony?
A class C 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.
| State | Prison | Fine | The law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 year and 1 day to 10 yearsThe minimum is 10 years if a firearm or deadly weapon was used or attempted. | Up to $15,000 | Ala. Code § 13A-5-6(a)(3), (a)(6); § 13A-5-11(a)(3)1 |
| Alaska | Up to 5 yearsFor a first felony conviction the presumptive range is 0 to 2 years. It is 2 to 4 years for a second felony and 3 to 5 years for a third. | Up to $50,000 | AS 12.55.125(e); AS 12.55.035(b)(4)2 |
| Arkansas | 3 to 10 years | Up to $10,000 | Ark. Code § 5-4-401(a)(4); § 5-4-201(a)(2)3 |
| Connecticut | 1 to 10 years | Up to $10,000 | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a(7), 53a-414 |
| Delaware | Up to 15 years | None set | 11 Del. C. § 4205(b)(3)5 |
| Hawaii | Up to 5 years, with the minimum time served set by the Hawaii paroling authorityFor some drug felonies (chapter 712, part IV) the term is 1 to 5 years. An extended term of up to 10 years is possible if the person meets one of the extended term criteria. A felony that has no class is a class C felony. | Up to $10,000 | Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-660(1), 706-640(1)(c), 706-661, 706-6106 |
| Iowa | Up to 10 yearsThe fine is required in addition to prison unless the person is sentenced under the statute's "habitual offender" rule. State surcharges are added on top of the fine. | $1,370 to $13,660 | Iowa Code § 902.9(1)(d), (2)7 |
| Kentucky | 5 to 10 yearsFine 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 greater | KRS 532.060(2)8 |
| Missouri | 3 to 10 years | Up to $10,000 | Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 558.011(1)(3), 558.0029 |
| New York | Maximum term up to 15 yearsThe minimum is at least 1 year and no more than one-third of the maximum. Violent felonies currently get a fixed (determinate) term instead (see notes). | Up to $5,000, or double the gain from the crime if higher | N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00(2)10 |
| North Carolina | Usual minimum term of 58 to 146 months, depending on prior recordThe usual (presumptive) minimum is 58 to 73 months at prior record level I and 117 to 146 months at level VI. Mitigating factors can lower the minimum to as little as 44 months, and aggravating factors can raise it to as much as 182 months. A separate table sets the maximum term. Active prison is required at every level. | Set by the judge | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.17(c)11 |
| North Dakota | Up to 5 yearsThe court may impose prison, the fine, or both. | Up to $10,000 | N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-01(4)12 |
| Oregon | 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), 161.70513 |
| South Carolina | Up to 20 years | None set | S.C. Code § 16-1-20(A)14 |
| South Dakota | Up to lifeFor people under 18 at the time of the offense, the maximum may be a term of years. | Up to $50,000 | S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-115 |
| Tennessee | 3 to 15 yearsThe fine is set by a jury, "unless otherwise provided by statute." | Up to $10,000 | Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(b)16 |
| Washington | Up to 5 yearsPrison and fine can be combined. These are maximums unless another statute sets a different one. | Up to $10,000 | RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)17 |
| Wisconsin | 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)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 C 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
- Capital felony
- Class 1 felony
- Class 2 felony
- Class 3 felony
- Class 4 felony
- Class 5 felony
- Class 6 felony
- Class A felony
- Class B felony
- Class B1 felony
- Class B2 felony
- Class D felony
- Class E felony
- Class F felony
- Class G felony
- Class H felony
- Class I felony
- Class Y felony
- First-degree felony
- Fourth-degree felony
- Second-degree felony
- Third-degree felony
- Unclassified felony
Sources
Each source was opened and checked on October 29, 2026.
- Alabama: Ala. Code § 13A-5-6(a)(3), (a)(6); § 13A-5-11(a)(3)
- Alaska: AS 12.55.125(e); AS 12.55.035(b)(4)
- Arkansas: Ark. Code § 5-4-401(a)(4); § 5-4-201(a)(2)
- Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a(7), 53a-41
- Delaware: 11 Del. C. § 4205(b)(3)
- Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-660(1), 706-640(1)(c), 706-661, 706-610
- Iowa: Iowa Code § 902.9(1)(d), (2)
- Kentucky: KRS 532.060(2)
- Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 558.011(1)(3), 558.002
- New York: N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00(2)
- North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.17(c)
- North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-01(4)
- Oregon: ORS 161.605(3), 161.625(1), 161.705
- South Carolina: S.C. Code § 16-1-20(A)
- South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-1
- Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(b)
- Washington: RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)
- Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50(3), 973.01(2)(b), (d)