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 Pennsylvania (PA), criminal offenses are indeed categorized into felonies and misdemeanors based on their severity, similar to the federal system. Felonies are the more serious crimes, potentially leading to imprisonment for more than one year, and can be further divided into classes (such as Felony 1, Felony 2, and Felony 3) with varying degrees of punishment. Misdemeanors in PA are less serious offenses and are also classified into classes (such as Misdemeanor 1, Misdemeanor 2, and Misdemeanor 3), with maximum sentences of up to one year in jail. The Pennsylvania General Assembly, the state's legislature, is responsible for defining state crimes and their classifications as either felonies or misdemeanors. The specific penalties and classifications are outlined in the Pennsylvania Crimes Code and other relevant state statutes. For federal offenses, the United States Congress determines the classifications and penalties, as federal law applies across all states.