Arson is the deliberate and malicious act of setting fire to structures or property. The penalties for arson are severe. If the fire results in death, the arson charges can be elevated to murder charges. In such cases, the perpetrator may receive the death penalty. However, most cases of arson are considered felonies. In some states the penalties depend on the kind or extent of damage: For great bodily injury, the penalty is often up to 10 years in prison; If the structure is inhabited, the punishment can be up to 8 years; Burning forest land or uninhabited structures can up to 6 years in prison; Property arson can receive up to 3 years in prison; Most arson can result in mandatory lifetime registration.