Definition

What is a misdemeanor?

Under federal law, a misdemeanor is an offense with a maximum prison term of one year or less but more than five days. Federal misdemeanors fall into three classes: Class A is one year or less but more than six months, Class B is six months or less but more than 30 days, and Class C is 30 days or less but more than five days.¹ States set their own misdemeanor classes and jail limits, and some set penalties crime by crime instead. Here is each state's rule, from its own law.

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

Petty offenses

Federal law calls a Class B misdemeanor, a Class C misdemeanor or an infraction a "petty offense," as long as the maximum fine is no greater than the amount set in 18 U.S.C. 3571(b)(6) or (7).² A petty offense is the bottom tier of federal crimes. Class A misdemeanors are not petty offenses under this definition.

Infractions and violations

Below misdemeanors, many states have offenses that usually can't bring jail time, or only a short jail term:

In New York, a violation is an offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a jail sentence of more than 15 days cannot be imposed.³
In California, an infraction is not punishable by imprisonment. A person charged with an infraction is not entitled to a jury trial.⁴

Misdemeanor classes and jail limits in each state

Misdemeanor classes and maximum jail terms by state
State	Classes and longest jail term
Alabama	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a)(1); § 13A-5-12(a)(1) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a)(2); § 13A-5-12(a)(2) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 3 months Ala. Code § 13A-5-7(a)(3); § 13A-5-12(a)(3)
Alaska	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year AS 12.55.135(a); AS 12.55.035(b)(5) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 90 days AS 12.55.135(b); AS 12.55.035(b)(6)
Arizona	Class 1 misdemeanor: Up to 6 months A.R.S. § 13-707(A)(1); § 13-802(A) Class 2 misdemeanor: Up to 4 months A.R.S. § 13-707(A)(2); § 13-802(B) Class 3 misdemeanor: Up to 30 days A.R.S. § 13-707(A)(3); § 13-802(C)
Arkansas	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Ark. Code § 5-4-401(b)(1); § 5-4-201(b)(1) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 90 days Ark. Code § 5-4-401(b)(2); § 5-4-201(b)(2) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 30 days Ark. Code § 5-4-401(b)(3); § 5-4-201(b)(3) Unclassified misdemeanor: As set by the law that defines the offense Ark. Code § 5-4-401(b)(4); § 5-4-201(b)(4)
California	Misdemeanor (default sentence): Up to 6 months Cal. Penal Code § 19
Colorado	Class 1 misdemeanor: Up to 364 days Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-501(1)(a.5) Class 2 misdemeanor: Up to 120 days Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-501(1)(a.5) Level 1 drug misdemeanor (DM1): 6 to 18 months Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-501(1)(d) Level 2 drug misdemeanor (DM2): Up to 364 days Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-501(1)(d)
Connecticut	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 364 days Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-36(1), 53a-36a(a), 53a-42(1) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-36(2), 53a-42(2) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 3 months Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-36(3), 53a-42(3) Class D misdemeanor: Up to 30 days Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-36(4), 53a-42(4) Unclassified misdemeanor: As set by the law that defines the crime Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-36(5), 53a-42(5)
Delaware	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year 11 Del. C. § 4206(a) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months 11 Del. C. § 4206(b) Unclassified misdemeanor: As set by the law that defines the offense. If it sets none, up to 30 days. 11 Del. C. § 4206(c)
D.C.	No misdemeanor classes in the code; penalties are set crime by crime or under other labels. See how D.C. grades crimes.
Florida	First-degree misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082(4)(a), 775.083(1)(d) Second-degree misdemeanor: Up to 60 days Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082(4)(b), 775.083(1)(e)
Georgia	Misdemeanor: Up to 12 months O.C.G.A. § 17-10-3(a) Misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature: Up to 12 months O.C.G.A. § 17-10-4(a)
Hawaii	Misdemeanor: Up to 364 days (up to 1 year for a crime of violence) Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-663 (as amended by Act 143, SLH 2026), 706-640(1)(d), 701-107(6) Petty misdemeanor: Up to 30 days Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-663 (as amended by Act 143, SLH 2026), 706-640(1)(e)
Idaho	Misdemeanor (general penalty): Up to 6 months Idaho Code § 18-113(1)
Illinois	Class A misdemeanor: Less than 1 year 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55(a), (d), (e) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-60(a), (d), (e) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 30 days 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-65(a), (d), (e)
Indiana	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Ind. Code § 35-50-3-2 Class B misdemeanor: Up to 180 days Ind. Code § 35-50-3-3 Class C misdemeanor: Up to 60 days Ind. Code § 35-50-3-4
Iowa	Aggravated misdemeanor: Up to 2 years Iowa Code § 903.1(2) Serious misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Iowa Code § 903.1(1)(b) Simple misdemeanor: Up to 30 days Iowa Code § 903.1(1)(a); Iowa Code § 701.8
Kansas	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year K.S.A. 21-6602(a)(1); K.S.A. 21-6611(b)(1) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months K.S.A. 21-6602(a)(2); K.S.A. 21-6611(b)(2) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 1 month K.S.A. 21-6602(a)(3); K.S.A. 21-6611(b)(3)
Kentucky	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 12 months KRS 532.090(1) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 90 days KRS 532.090(2)
Louisiana	Misdemeanor (no classes): Set crime by crime. There is no general range. La. R.S. 14:2(A)(6)
Maine	No misdemeanor classes in the code; penalties are set crime by crime or under other labels. See how Maine grades crimes.
Maryland	No misdemeanor classes in the code; penalties are set crime by crime or under other labels. See how Maryland grades crimes.
Massachusetts	Misdemeanor: Set offense by offense Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 274, § 1
Michigan	Misdemeanor with no set penalty (default): Up to 90 days MCL 750.504
Minnesota	Gross misdemeanor: Up to 364 days Minn. Stat. §§ 609.02, subd. 4; 609.03(2) Misdemeanor: Up to 90 days Minn. Stat. §§ 609.02, subd. 3; 609.03(3)
Mississippi	No misdemeanor classes in the code; penalties are set crime by crime or under other labels. See how Mississippi grades crimes.
Missouri	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 558.011(1)(6), 558.002 Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 558.011(1)(7), 558.002 Class C misdemeanor: Up to 15 days Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 558.011(1)(8), 558.002 Class D misdemeanor: No jail term listed Mo. Rev. Stat. § 558.002(1)(5)
Montana	Misdemeanor with no penalty set: Up to 6 months Mont. Code Ann. § 46-18-212
Nebraska	Class I misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106(1) Class II misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106(1) Class III misdemeanor: Up to 3 months Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106(1) Class IIIA misdemeanor: Up to 7 days Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106(1) Class IV misdemeanor: No jail Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106(1) Class V misdemeanor: No jail Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106(1) Class W misdemeanor: First DUI: 7 to 60 days. Second: 30 days to 6 months. Third: 90 days to 1 year. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106(1)
Nevada	Gross misdemeanor: Up to 364 days Nev. Rev. Stat. § 193.140 Misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Nev. Rev. Stat. § 193.150(1)
New Hampshire	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 651:2, II(c) Class B misdemeanor: None (no jail or probation) N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 651:2, III
New Jersey	Disorderly persons offense: Up to 6 months N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:43-8; § 2C:43-3(c) Petty disorderly persons offense: Up to 30 days N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:43-8; § 2C:43-3(d)
New Mexico	Misdemeanor: Less than 1 year N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-19-1(A) Petty misdemeanor: Up to 6 months N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-19-1(B)
New York	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 364 days N.Y. Penal Law §§ 70.15(1), 80.05(1) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 3 months N.Y. Penal Law §§ 70.15(2), 80.05(2) Unclassified misdemeanor: As set by the law that defines the crime, but never more than 364 days N.Y. Penal Law §§ 70.15(3), 80.05(3)
North Carolina	Class A1 misdemeanor: Up to 150 days, depending on prior convictions N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.23(b), (c) Class 1 misdemeanor: Up to 120 days, depending on prior convictions N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.23(b), (c) Class 2 misdemeanor: Up to 60 days, depending on prior convictions N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.23(b), (c) Class 3 misdemeanor: Up to 20 days, depending on prior convictions N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-1340.23(b), (c), (d)
North Dakota	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 360 days N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-01 Class B misdemeanor: Up to 30 days N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-32-01
Ohio	Misdemeanor of the first degree (M1): Up to 180 days Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2929.24(A)(1), 2929.28(A)(2)(a)(i) Misdemeanor of the second degree (M2): Up to 90 days Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2929.24(A)(2), 2929.28(A)(2)(a)(ii) Misdemeanor of the third degree (M3): Up to 60 days Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2929.24(A)(3), 2929.28(A)(2)(a)(iii) Misdemeanor of the fourth degree (M4): Up to 30 days Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2929.24(A)(4), 2929.28(A)(2)(a)(iv)
Oklahoma	Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year 21 O.S. § 10
Oregon	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 364 days ORS 161.615(1), 161.635(1), 161.555(3) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months ORS 161.615(2), 161.635(1) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 30 days ORS 161.615(3), 161.635(1) Unclassified misdemeanor: Set by the law for that crime ORS 161.555, 161.615(4)
Pennsylvania	Misdemeanor of the first degree (M1): Up to 5 years 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104(1), 1101(4) Misdemeanor of the second degree (M2): Up to 2 years 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104(2), 1101(5), 106(d) Misdemeanor of the third degree (M3): Up to 1 year 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104(3), 1101(6)
Rhode Island	Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-1-2 Petty misdemeanor: Up to 6 months R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-1-2
South Carolina	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 3 years S.C. Code § 16-1-20(A) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 2 years S.C. Code § 16-1-20(A) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 1 year S.C. Code § 16-1-20(A)
South Dakota	Class 1 misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in county jail S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-2 Class 2 misdemeanor: Up to 30 days in county jail S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-2
Tennessee	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 11 months and 29 days Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(e) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(e) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 30 days Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(e)
Texas	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 1 year Tex. Penal Code § 12.21 Class B misdemeanor: Up to 180 days Tex. Penal Code § 12.22 Class C misdemeanor: No jail Tex. Penal Code § 12.23
Utah	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 364 days Utah Code § 76-3-204(1) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Utah Code § 76-3-204(2) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 90 days Utah Code § 76-3-204(3)
Vermont	Misdemeanor: A maximum of 2 years or less, set by each offense 13 V.S.A. § 1
Virginia	Class 1 misdemeanor: Up to 12 months Va. Code § 18.2-11(a) Class 2 misdemeanor: Up to 6 months Va. Code § 18.2-11(b) Class 3 misdemeanor: No jail Va. Code § 18.2-11(c) Class 4 misdemeanor: No jail Va. Code § 18.2-11(d)
Washington	Gross misdemeanor: Up to 364 days RCW 9A.20.021(2) Misdemeanor: Up to 90 days RCW 9A.20.021(3)
West Virginia	No misdemeanor classes in the code; penalties are set crime by crime or under other labels. See how West Virginia grades crimes.
Wisconsin	Class A misdemeanor: Up to 9 months Wis. Stat. § 939.51(3) Class B misdemeanor: Up to 90 days Wis. Stat. § 939.51(3) Class C misdemeanor: Up to 30 days Wis. Stat. § 939.51(3)
Wyoming	Misdemeanor (default penalty): Up to 6 months Wyo. Stat. § 6-10-103

Charges that are usually misdemeanors

bad checks, driving without a license, harassment, reckless driving, resisting arrest, shoplifting, trespassing. Each can become a felony in some cases, for example because of earlier convictions, an injury or a higher dollar amount; each page explains when.

Does a misdemeanor stay on your record?

Court and police records of a felony or misdemeanor generally do not expire on their own. They stay until a court or a state law seals, expunges, sets aside or otherwise clears them.⁵ Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a criminal conviction can be reported on a background check no matter how old it is.⁶ Most states let some misdemeanor convictions be sealed, expunged or otherwise cleared. Check your state's rules or see how far back a background check can go.

Questions

What is a misdemeanor?

What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?

Generally, a misdemeanor can bring up to a year in jail and a felony more than a year in prison, but each state sets its own line and labels. Some states allow longer sentences for their most serious misdemeanors: up to five years in Pennsylvania, three in South Carolina and two in Iowa. The table on this page gives each state's misdemeanor classes and jail limits from its own law.

Does a misdemeanor stay on your record?

Is an infraction or violation a misdemeanor?

No. Many states have a lower tier below misdemeanors, often called an infraction or violation. Some, such as Alaska, Florida and Hawaii, say in their law that it is not a crime. In New York, a violation is an offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a jail sentence of more than 15 days cannot be imposed. In California, an infraction is not punishable by imprisonment. A person charged with an infraction is not entitled to a jury trial.

Sources

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