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 Ohio, criminal offenses are classified into two main categories: felonies and misdemeanors, based on the severity of the crime. Felonies are the more serious offenses that can result in prison sentences of more than one year. Ohio law further divides felonies into five degrees, with first-degree felonies being the most serious, potentially leading to prison terms of up to 11 years, and fifth-degree felonies being the least serious, with potential prison terms of 6 to 12 months. Misdemeanors in Ohio are less serious offenses and are also divided into degrees, from first to fourth, with first-degree misdemeanors carrying the most severe penalties, including jail time of up to 180 days and/or fines. Federal criminal offenses, on the other hand, are defined and penalized by the United States Congress, which determines which crimes are felonies and misdemeanors at the federal level. The penalties for federal offenses are outlined in the United States Code and can vary significantly based on the nature of the crime and other factors.
