Crimes & Penalties by State

Have a question on how your state defines and punishes a particular crime? This is the place to start.

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Related to This Topic

Every state has a unique set of laws (statutes) and court opinions, which together make up that state's criminal law. Even crimes as common as burglary can vary in the details from state to state. If you're interested in knowing how your state defines and punishes a particular crime, you need to either read the statutes and court cases or -- far better -- read an article that has done the work for you.

Below you'll see links to each of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia, too). On each state's page, we've posted articles on common crimes. We're constantly adding articles, so if you don't see a crime covered on your state's page, please bear with us.

Looking Up the Law

Every state has placed their statutes on public, free websites. If you want to read the law itself, that's where you'll need to go. We can help.

Finding the Law Online
You can read the law for yourself--follow these tips for finding statutes online.

Crimes & Penalties by State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri

Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania

Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Get Help

The path of a criminal case through the courts is complicated. The way cases are handled varies from state to state and county to county. If you've been charged with a crime, you'll want to talk to a lawyer familiar with your area and courts.

Speak to a Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you've been charged with a crime, you'll probably want to speak to a lawyer.

The Criminal Law Handbook
Know Your Rights, Survive the System. Learn how the criminal justice system works.

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The content of this website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice. Always consult with an attorney regarding any legal issues. If you live in Alabama, Florida, Missouri, New York or Wyoming, please click here for additional information.