Criminal Charges List: Felonies, Misdemeanors, and Infractions

A list of criminal charges in the United States is organized first by severity — infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies — and then by category, including crimes against persons, property crimes, financial and white-collar offenses, drug crimes, computer crimes, inchoate offenses like conspiracy and attempt, public-order violations, firearms and obstruction offenses, and driving under the influence. Federal law defines the tiers by the maximum prison sentence attached to the offense, with felonies starting above one year and reaching life imprisonment or death.¹ States use similar structures with their own labels and penalty ranges. What follows walks through the major charge categories, what each one covers, and what it typically carries.

How Charges Are Classified

Every criminal offense is sorted into a tier based on the maximum sentence it can bring. That tier controls not just possible punishment but a range of rights a conviction can cost you.

Infractions

Infractions are the lowest level. The maximum punishment is five days or less in jail, or no jail at all.¹ Almost all resolve with a fine. Traffic tickets and minor local ordinance violations are the common examples, and they usually don’t create a permanent criminal record.

Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors carry potential jail time of up to one year. Federal law splits them into three classes: Class A (six months to one year), Class B (30 days to six months), and Class C (five to 30 days).¹ Anyone convicted usually serves time in a local or county jail rather than a state or federal prison. Petty theft, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and first-offense DUI are common examples.

Felonies

Felonies are the most serious charges, defined by prison sentences exceeding one year. The federal system uses five classes:¹

Class A: life imprisonment or death
Class B: 25 years or more
Class C: 10 to less than 25 years
Class D: 5 to less than 10 years
Class E: more than 1 year but less than 5 years

A felony conviction also strips away civil rights many people take for granted. Depending on the jurisdiction, convicted felons can lose the right to vote, own firearms, serve on a jury, or hold certain professional licenses. Those consequences frequently outlast the prison sentence.

Same Conduct, Two Prosecutions

Because the federal government and each state are considered separate legal authorities, the same conduct can violate both federal and state law. When it does, both governments can prosecute independently without violating the constitutional protection against being tried twice for the same offense. The Supreme Court reaffirmed this in 2019, holding that each sovereign’s law defines its own distinct offense for double jeopardy purposes.² Someone acquitted in state court for a bank robbery can still face federal charges for the same robbery if a federally insured bank was involved.

Crimes Against Persons

Violent crimes against individuals carry some of the harshest penalties on the books because they involve direct harm to another person’s body, safety, or freedom.

Homicide

Homicide is the unlawful killing of another person. Under federal law, first-degree murder — a deliberate, premeditated killing — carries death or life in prison. Second-degree murder, which lacks premeditation, can result in any term of years up to life.³ Manslaughter, a less severe form, covers killings in the heat of the moment or through criminal negligence rather than deliberate intent. Federal homicide charges arise when the killing happens on federal land, against a federal officer, or in other circumstances that give the federal government jurisdiction.

Sexual Offenses

Federal sexual assault charges cover offenses committed on federal property, in federal prisons, or across state lines. The most serious federal charge, aggravated sexual abuse, involves using force or threats to compel a sexual act, or rendering someone unconscious or drugging them for that purpose. The penalty reaches life in prison.⁴

When the victim is a child under 12, or a child between 12 and 15 who is at least four years younger than the offender, the mandatory minimum jumps to 30 years. A second federal conviction for sexual abuse involving a child triggers an automatic life sentence.⁴ State-level sex crime charges vary widely and typically include rape, sexual battery, and statutory rape, with most states maintaining sex offender registries that impose long-term reporting requirements after conviction.

Kidnapping

Federal kidnapping charges apply when someone is seized or held against their will and transported across state lines, or when the victim is a federal official or foreign diplomat. The penalty is any term of years up to life, and if the victim dies, the sentence can be death or life imprisonment.⁵ Kidnapping cases that don’t cross state lines are still aggressively prosecuted at the state level, with sentences often reaching decades when the victim is a child or held for ransom.

Assault and Battery

Assault and battery are related but legally distinct. Assault covers intentionally putting someone in fear of immediate physical harm. Battery involves actual unwanted physical contact that causes injury or offense. When either involves a weapon or produces serious injury, the charge escalates to aggravated assault or aggravated battery, typically a felony carrying years rather than months. Most cases are handled at the state level, and the exact line between the misdemeanor and felony versions depends on the jurisdiction.

Robbery

Robbery combines theft with force or intimidation aimed at a person. The presence of a directly threatened victim is what separates robbery from other property crimes and makes it a violent offense. Using a firearm during a robbery frequently triggers mandatory minimum sentences on top of the underlying robbery charge. Armed bank robbery carries penalties of up to 25 years even without a weapon, and longer when one is used.

Property Crimes

Property crimes target belongings or real estate rather than physical safety. They range from minor shoplifting to large-scale arson, and the severity almost always scales with the dollar value of the loss.

Larceny and Theft

Larceny is the taking of someone’s property without permission and with intent to keep it permanently. Every state draws a line between petty theft (a misdemeanor) and grand theft (a felony), though the dollar threshold varies. Shoplifting is the most common form. Penalties typically include restitution to the victim and jail time that increases with the value of what was taken.

Burglary

Burglary is entering a building without authorization with the intent to commit a crime inside, usually theft. Physically breaking in isn’t required. Walking through an unlocked door counts if you had no right to be there. Penalties turn on the circumstances. Burglarizing an occupied home at night is treated far more seriously than entering an empty commercial building, and carrying a weapon during a burglary can add years to a sentence.

Criminal Trespass

At the federal level, trespassing on restricted government property is a crime under a statute covering locations protected by the Secret Service and areas designated for special national events. A basic violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. If the trespass involves a weapon or results in significant bodily injury, the charge jumps to a felony carrying up to 10 years.⁶ State trespass laws are broader, covering entry onto private property after being warned to stay off, and are among the most frequently charged low-level offenses.

Arson

Federal arson charges apply when someone intentionally sets fire to or uses explosives against property that is federally owned, leased, or funded. The base penalty ranges from 5 to 20 years. If someone is injured, the sentence increases to 7 to 40 years, and if someone dies, the minimum rises to 20 years with a possible sentence of life or death.⁷ Prosecutors must prove the fire was set deliberately rather than by accident. State arson laws reach private property and carry their own penalty ranges.

Vandalism

Vandalism covers intentionally damaging or defacing someone else’s property, from graffiti to smashing windows to destroying public facilities. It often starts as a misdemeanor, but when repair costs exceed dollar thresholds set by state law, the charge can escalate to a felony. Courts frequently order full restitution to the property owner alongside fines or community service.

Financial and White-Collar Crimes

White-collar crimes involve deception for financial gain rather than physical force. They tend to unfold over months or years, and the dollar amounts often drive the sentence.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement is theft by someone who had legitimate access to the money. An accountant siphoning funds from a company, a treasurer draining an organization’s bank account, a government employee redirecting public funds — each qualifies because the person was entrusted with the assets before stealing them. Federal embezzlement of public money carries up to 10 years when the amount exceeds $1,000.⁸ Large-scale corporate schemes are often charged under wire fraud or bank fraud statutes, which carry 20 to 30 years.

Money Laundering

Money laundering means conducting financial transactions with funds known to come from illegal activity in order to hide the source. Federal prosecutors use the charge to attack the financial infrastructure behind organized crime, drug trafficking, and fraud rings. The penalty is a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds (whichever is greater), plus up to 20 years in prison.⁹

Wire Fraud

Wire fraud covers any fraudulent scheme carried out using electronic communications: phone calls, emails, wire transfers, or internet transactions. The standard penalty is up to 20 years per count, and when the scheme targets a financial institution, the maximum jumps to 30 years and a $1 million fine.¹⁰ Because nearly every modern financial transaction touches some form of electronic communication, prosecutors can reach an enormous range of conduct with this charge. Each fraudulent message or transaction can be charged as a separate count, so sentences in major cases stack quickly.

Identity Theft

Identity theft involves using another person’s identifying information — Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, login credentials — without permission for financial gain. The federal aggravated identity theft statute imposes a mandatory two-year prison term that runs consecutively with the sentence for the underlying crime. The two years get added on after whatever other sentence the defendant receives, with no possibility of probation.¹¹ Courts routinely order restitution to cover the financial damage victims suffer rebuilding their credit.

Insider Trading

Insider trading means buying or selling securities based on material information that hasn’t been made public. Federal securities law prohibits using deceptive or manipulative tactics in connection with stock trades.¹² An executive who dumps stock before an earnings disaster becomes public, or a friend who trades on a tip from a board member, can both face charges. The SEC pursues civil penalties, while the Department of Justice handles criminal prosecution, which can result in substantial fines and years in prison.

Tax Evasion

Willfully attempting to evade or defeat a federal tax obligation is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 ($500,000 for corporations).¹³ The key word is “willfully.” A mistake on a tax return isn’t a crime. Deliberately hiding income, keeping fake records, or filing fraudulent returns is. IRS Criminal Investigation handles these cases, and conviction rates run high because agents spend years building the financial paper trail before charges are filed.

Racketeering (RICO)

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act targets ongoing criminal enterprises rather than isolated crimes. A RICO charge requires proof that the defendant participated in the affairs of an organization through a pattern of criminal activity — at least two related offenses within a 10-year period.¹⁴ The penalty is up to 20 years, or life if any of the underlying crimes carry a life sentence. Defendants must also forfeit any property or business interests gained through the illegal activity.¹⁵ RICO was originally designed to dismantle organized crime families. Prosecutors now use it against street gangs, corrupt businesses, and public officials running bribery schemes.

Drug Offenses

Drug charges are among the most commonly prosecuted crimes in the country. Penalties swing dramatically depending on the substance, the quantity, and whether the person was using or selling.

Possession

Simple possession means having a controlled substance for personal use. Federal and state law sort drugs into five schedules based on abuse potential and accepted medical uses.¹⁶ Schedule I substances like heroin and LSD are treated most harshly. Penalties for possession run from fines and probation for small amounts of lower-schedule drugs to mandatory minimum prison terms for repeat offenders or highly addictive substances.

Distribution and Trafficking

Possessing drugs with intent to sell is a far more serious charge. Prosecutors prove intent by pointing to scales, packaging materials, large amounts of cash, or quantities too large for personal use. Federal mandatory minimums kick in at specific weight thresholds. Trafficking 1 kilogram or more of heroin, 5 kilograms of cocaine, or 50 grams of methamphetamine triggers a mandatory minimum of 10 years, rising to 20 years if death or serious injury results from the drug’s use.¹⁷ Prior serious drug or violent felony convictions push these minimums higher.

Civil Asset Forfeiture

A drug-charge consequence that catches many people off guard is civil asset forfeiture. Law enforcement can seize property (cash, vehicles, homes) believed to be connected to drug activity, and can do so without ever convicting the owner of a crime. The legal action is filed against the property itself, not the person, shifting the burden to the owner to prove the property isn’t tied to illegal activity. Many forfeitures go uncontested because the cost of hiring a lawyer exceeds the value of what was seized.

Computer and Cyber Crimes

Federal computer crime law covers a wide range of conduct involving unauthorized access to computers and networks. The core federal statute makes it illegal to intentionally access a protected computer without authorization, or to exceed the access you were given, in order to obtain information, commit fraud, or cause damage.¹⁸ “Protected computer” is defined broadly enough to include essentially any device connected to the internet.

Charges under this statute cover hacking into corporate databases and stealing financial records, deploying ransomware, launching denial-of-service attacks, and trafficking in stolen passwords. Penalties vary with severity: accessing a computer to steal information can carry up to 5 or 10 years, while intentionally causing damage to a protected computer or committing fraud can bring sentences of 10 to 20 years, especially when government systems are involved or significant financial loss results. Federal prosecutors often pair computer fraud charges with wire fraud, identity theft, and other statutes to stack penalties.

Conspiracy and Attempt

You don’t have to finish committing a crime to be charged with one. Inchoate (incomplete) offenses punish planning and preparation.

Federal conspiracy requires two things: an agreement between two or more people to commit a federal crime, and at least one concrete step toward carrying it out. The maximum penalty is five years, unless the target crime is a misdemeanor, in which case the conspiracy penalty can’t exceed the misdemeanor’s maximum.¹⁹ Conspiracy is a favorite tool of federal prosecutors because it lets them charge everyone involved in a criminal operation, even members who played minor roles or joined late. An agreement alone isn’t enough. Someone in the group must take an overt act to move the plan forward.

Attempt charges apply when someone takes substantial steps toward committing a crime but doesn’t complete it. Getting caught mid-burglary, assembling materials for a bomb, or driving to a planned robbery target can all support attempt charges. Most federal attempt provisions carry the same maximum penalty as the completed crime, so there is no sentencing discount for failing to finish.

Public Order and Statutory Offenses

Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct is the catch-all misdemeanor for behavior that disrupts public peace: fighting, excessive noise, blocking traffic. It’s one of the most frequently charged offenses in the country and usually resolves with a small fine or a few days in local custody. Because the definition is vague, this charge sometimes draws criticism for being applied selectively, particularly during protests.

Firearms Offenses

Federal law restricts who can possess firearms and which types of weapons are legal. Prohibited categories include people convicted of felonies, individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders, users of controlled substances, and people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution.²⁰ Penalties for illegal possession run up to 15 years for a prohibited person caught with a firearm, and a mandatory minimum of 15 years for someone with three or more prior violent felony or serious drug offense convictions.²¹

Obstruction of Justice

Obstruction charges cover conduct that interferes with the legal process: destroying evidence, lying to federal investigators, tampering with witnesses, threatening jurors. The federal witness-tampering statute alone carries up to 20 years for intimidating or threatening a witness to influence testimony, and up to 30 years if physical force is used.²² If the obstruction occurs during a criminal trial, the maximum sentence can be increased to match whatever sentence the defendant in the underlying case faced.

Perjury

Lying under oath, whether in court, in a deposition, or on a signed document submitted under penalty of perjury, is a federal felony carrying up to five years.²³ The lie has to be about something material, meaning it must matter to the proceeding. Misremembering a date or making an honest mistake doesn’t qualify. Deliberately stating something you know to be false does, and prosecutors will use documents, recordings, or other testimony to prove the statement was intentional.

Driving Under the Influence

DUI (or DWI, depending on the jurisdiction) charges are handled almost entirely at the state level. Forty-nine states set the legal blood alcohol limit at 0.08% for noncommercial drivers, while Utah uses a 0.05% limit.²⁴ Commercial vehicle operators face a lower threshold of 0.04% under federal regulations. Impairment from drugs — prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal — can also support a DUI charge regardless of blood alcohol level.

A first-offense DUI is typically a misdemeanor. Common penalties include license suspension, mandatory alcohol education programs, fines, and possible brief jail time. Consequences escalate sharply with repeat offenses. Second and third convictions in most states bring longer license revocations, required ignition interlock devices, and increasingly lengthy jail sentences. Multiple convictions within a set timeframe can push the charge to a felony, and a DUI that causes serious injury or death is almost always prosecuted as a felony regardless of prior history.

What a Conviction Can Cost Beyond the Sentence

The punishment listed in a statute is often just the beginning. A criminal conviction can trigger consequences that follow someone for years after the sentence is served.

Employment and professional licensing are the most immediate concern. Many licensing boards require background checks, and a conviction (even a misdemeanor) can lead to license suspension or denial in healthcare, law, finance, education, and dozens of other fields. The connection between the crime and the profession doesn’t always have to be direct. Some boards use broad “moral character” standards that capture a wide range of offenses.

Immigration consequences are severe and often irreversible. Non-citizens convicted of what federal immigration law classifies as an “aggravated felony” face mandatory detention and deportation, with almost no available defenses. The term is misleading: it includes offenses that are neither aggravated nor felonies under state law, such as theft with a one-year sentence or selling even small quantities of drugs. Drug convictions of virtually any kind (with a narrow exception for first-time possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana), domestic violence convictions, and firearms offenses all independently trigger deportation grounds.

Other common collateral consequences include losing the right to possess firearms after any felony conviction, difficulty finding housing because landlords run background checks, ineligibility for certain federal benefits, and restrictions on voting rights that vary by state. Many jurisdictions now offer expungement or record-sealing procedures for qualifying offenses. The process requires a petition, a waiting period, and filing fees that vary widely by jurisdiction.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 3559 – Sentencing Classification of Offenses
2
Supreme Court of the United States. Gamble v. United States
3
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1111 – Murder
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 2241 – Aggravated Sexual Abuse
5
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1201 – Kidnapping
6
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1752 – Restricted Building or Grounds
7
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 844 – Penalties
8
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. Chapter 31 – Embezzlement and Theft
9
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1956 – Laundering of Monetary Instruments
10
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1343 – Fraud by Wire, Radio, or Television
11
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1028A – Aggravated Identity Theft
12
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S.C. 78j – Manipulative and Deceptive Devices
13
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 U.S.C. 7201 – Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax
14
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1962 – Prohibited Activities
15
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1963 – Criminal Penalties
16
Drug Enforcement Administration. Drug Scheduling
17
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 21 U.S.C. 841 – Prohibited Acts A
18
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1030 – Fraud and Related Activity in Connection With Computers
19
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 371 – Conspiracy to Commit Offense or to Defraud United States
20
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 922 – Unlawful Acts
21
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 924 – Penalties
22
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1512 – Tampering With a Witness, Victim, or an Informant
23
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 1621 – Perjury Generally
24
Alcohol Policy Information System. Adult Operators of Noncommercial Motor Vehicles