Class C and Level Three Felonies

The least serious felonies are classified as Level C or Level Three. They all involve fines and prison time, but sentences may be as short as a year. Probation is sometimes an option.

What is a Class C Felony?

The criminal codes of every state and the federal criminal code separate felony crimes (serious offenses) from misdemeanors (less serious). Some states use a classification system to organize felonies from those that are the most serious to those that are less so. Some states use a letter classification system, such as class A, B, C, and so on; others use a numerical approach, such as class or level 1, 2, 3, and so on. Under this approach, a class C felony (or a level 3 felony) is the third most serious felony.

Because each state has its own penal code and its own view of how much punishment a particular crime deserves, an offense that is a class C /level 3 felony in one state may be considered a class B/level 2 or D/level 4 in another state.

For more information on felony classification systems, see Felony Classes: Charges and Penalties.

Penalties for felonies can range from one year to life in prison, depending on the crime charged, enhancements (time added to a base sentence), and any mitigating circumstances (time taken from a base sentence). Several states also levy fines for class C felonies.

States That Have Class C or Level 3 Felonies

The following states have classified their felony crimes by class A, B, C, and so on; or levels 1, 2, 3, and so on. Accordingly, these states have Class C/level 3 felonies: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Consult the chart below to read more about each state’s classification system, including examples of Class C felonies and penalties.

State

Classification System
Alabama A, B, or C
Alaska A, B, or C
Arizona 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6
Arkansas Y, A, B, C, or D
California By crime
Colorado 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or unclassified
Connecticut A, B, C, or D; or unclassified (by crime); different sentencing laws apply for crimes committed before July 1, 1981
Delaware A, B, C, D, E, F, or G
D.C. By crime
Florida Capital or life felonies; or felonies of the first, second, or third degree
Georgia By crime
Hawaii A, B, or C; murder classed separately
Idaho By crime
Illinois X, 1, 2, 3, or 4; murder classed separately
Indiana A, B, C, or D
Iowa A, B, C, or D
Kansas Grid system
Kentucky A, B, C, or D
Louisiana By crime
Maine A, B, or C
Maryland By crime
Massachusetts By crime
Michigan A, B, C, D, E, F, G, or H
Minnesota By crime
Mississippi By crime
Missouri A, B, C, D, or E
Montana By crime
Nebraska Class I, IA, IB, IC, ID, II, III, IIIA, or IV
Nevada A, B, C, D, or E
New Hampshire A or B
New Jersey Indictable offenses: first, second, third or fourth degree
New Mexico Capital offenses, first, second, third, or fourth degree
New York A-I, A-II, B, C, D, or E
North Carolina A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, G, H, or I
North Dakota AA, A, B, or C
Ohio First, second, third, fourth, or fifth degree
Oklahoma By crime
Oregon Unclassified (by crime), A, B, or C
Pennsylvania First, second, third degree or unclassified (by crime)
Rhode Island By crime
South Carolina A, B, C, D, E, or F
South Dakota Classes A, B,or C; and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6
Tennessee A, B, C, D, or E
Texas Capital felonies; first, second or third degree felonies; or state jail felonies
Utah Capital felonies; first, second or third degree felonies
Vermont By crime
Virginia 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or by crime
Washington A, B, or C
West Virginia By crime
Wisconsin A, B, C, D, E, F, G, or I
Wyoming By crime
DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS

Talk to a Defense attorney

We've helped 95 clients find attorneys today.

How It Works

  1. Briefly tell us about your case
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Choose attorneys to contact you