Criminal offenses under state and federal laws are generally categorized by the seriousness of the crime as felonies (more serious) or misdemeanors (less serious). Felonies are offenses that generally may result in prison sentences of more than one year, and misdemeanors carry sentences of one year or less. The United States Congress sets the penalties for all federal criminal offenses, and thus decides which criminal offenses are felonies and which are misdemeanors. And the state legislature in each state decides which criminal offenses are felonies and which are misdemeanors under state law.

In North Carolina, criminal offenses are classified as either felonies or misdemeanors based on their severity, with felonies being the more serious category of crimes. Felonies in North Carolina are punishable by prison sentences that can exceed one year, while misdemeanors are less severe crimes that typically result in sentences of one year or less. The classification of crimes and the corresponding penalties at the federal level are determined by the United States Congress, which designates certain offenses as felonies or misdemeanaries. Similarly, the North Carolina General Assembly is responsible for defining state criminal offenses and their classifications, as well as setting the penalties for each. The state's structured sentencing laws provide guidelines for judges in determining appropriate sentences for convicted individuals based on the severity of the crime and the defendant's criminal history.