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 Wyoming (WY), as in other states, criminal offenses are categorized into felonies and misdemeanors based on the severity of the crime. Felonies are considered more serious and can result in imprisonment for more than one year, while misdemeanors are less serious with potential 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. Similarly, the Wyoming state legislature is responsible for defining which offenses constitute felonies and misdemeanors under state law. The specific statutes and regulations in Wyoming will outline the penalties and categorizations for various offenses, reflecting the state's legal standards and societal values regarding criminal behavior.