What is a class H felony in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, the prison range for a Class H felony is usual minimum term of 5 to 20 months, depending on prior record, and the fine is set by the judge. The usual (presumptive) minimum is 5 to 6 months at prior record level I and 16 to 20 months at level VI. Mitigating factors can lower the minimum to as little as 4 months, and aggravating factors can raise it to as much as 25 months. A separate table sets the maximum term. At level I the chart allows a community, intermediate or active punishment. At levels II to V it allows an intermediate or active punishment. At level VI it requires active prison.

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.

Same name, different sentence

What is a class H felony?

A class H felony is one of the grades states use to rank felonies by how serious they are. 2 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 H felony sentences by state
State	Prison	Fine	The law
North Carolina	Usual minimum term of 5 to 20 months, depending on prior recordThe usual (presumptive) minimum is 5 to 6 months at prior record level I and 16 to 20 months at level VI. Mitigating factors can lower the minimum to as little as 4 months, and aggravating factors can raise it to as much as 25 months. A separate table sets the maximum term. At level I the chart allows a community, intermediate or active punishment. At levels II to V it allows an intermediate or active punishment. At level VI it requires active prison.	Set by the judge	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.17(c)¹
Wisconsin	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)²

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 H 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?

Sources

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

What is a class H felony?

Why the same name means different things

Other felony grades

Sources