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 Nevada, as in other states, criminal offenses are categorized into felonies and misdemeanors based on their severity. Felonies are the more serious crimes, potentially leading to prison sentences of more than one year, while misdemeanors are less serious, with sentences of up to one year, often served in a county jail. The distinction between felonies and misdemeanaries is determined by the Nevada Revised Statutes, which is the legal framework established by the state legislature. This categorization affects various aspects of the criminal justice process, including sentencing, the rights of the accused, and the procedures that must be followed by law enforcement and the courts. For federal offenses, the classification into felonies and misdemeanors is established by the United States Congress, which also sets the penalties for federal crimes. The federal classification applies to offenses that violate federal law, and these cases are handled in federal courts.