How Are Criminal Penalties Classified into Tiers

In the most basic sense, every State has its own specific list of felonies adapted into State law, ranging in a number of different categories such as Class A felonies and 3rd degree felony. Although there are bound to be similarities between the groupings- for instance, 3rd degree felony convictions of one State will bear a likeliness to the class C list of felonies of another- a felony charge and its punishment will ultimately differ across the nation. Being that the majority of felony charges are given on a State level, such a specialized list of felonies for each State is appropriate.

In terms of Federal felony convictions, most crimes brought to the Supreme Court are "federal complaints" which involve the safety or overall well-being of the country in some way, even if the crime is seemingly minor. Any crime committed on Federal soil, for example, would receive a Federal felony charge. The list of felonies considered Federal charges also includes, but is certainly not limited to, mail fraud, tax evasion, any grave violence toward U.S. President, Vice President, any many other Federal officials, and most large quantity-controlled substance trafficking, manufacturing, distribution, etc.

The most basic classification of Federal felony convictions on the list of felonies includes the following, which are based both on the exact conditions (and severity) of the offense and any factors that are associated with it, such as whether the offender has been charged with a prior felony offense.

A Class A felony results in capital punishment (the death penalty) or life imprisonment, with fines up to $250,000, depending on the severity of the felony charge;

A Class B felony results in imprisonment time of 25 years or more, with fines up to $250,000, depending on the severity of the felony charge;

A Class C felony results in imprisonment time of between 10 and 25 years, with fines up to $250,000, depending on the severity of the felony charge;

A Class D felony results in imprisonment time of between five and ten years, with fines up to $250,000, depending on the severity of the felony charge;

A Class E felony results in imprisonment time of between one and five years, with fines up to $250,000, depending on the severity of the felony charge.

Again, while there will certainly be some State and Federal disparities in felony categorizations of the list of felonies, most State felonies will be grouped using the same general system; that is, one which distinguishes the severity of different felonies by using numerical or alphabetical rankings. Some states, like Indiana, use a very similar sentencing structure to the Federal classes, only as a general rule fines are far lower, usually not exceeding $10,000, and murder is held as a separate category all its own.

In Arizona, the list of felonies is grouped by Class 1 to Class 6 felonies, with a Class 1 charge being the most severe, administering a 25-year imprisonment sentence with the possibility of capital punishment if first-degree murder has occurred. Other states, like Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Ohio, and Utah, among others, make their felony distinctions using capital felony, first degree felony, second degree felony, third degree felony, and fourth degree felony classes.

Regardless of the system individual states decide to utilize, the follow generalizations can typically be made:

Capital punishment or life felonies imply life imprisonment or the death penalty;

A Class A, Class 1, or 1st degree felony charge usually implies similar punishments;

A Class B, Class 2, or 2nd degree felony usually implies similar punishments;

A Class C, Class 3, or 3rd degree felony usually implies similar punishments;

A Class D, Class 4, or 4th degree felony usually implies similar punishments.

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