Felony or Misdemeanor
AS 12.55.125 — class C felonies up to five years, class A misdemeanors up to one year, violations a fine alone
Most offenses in the criminal code are sorted into three classes of felony and two of misdemeanor. A class A felony characteristically involves serious physical injury or a substantial risk of it, a class B felony less severe violence or aggravated offenses against property or public order, and a class C felony conduct serious enough to be a felony but not an A or a B.
Who handles this in Alaska: Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alaska directory.
| Class | Prison up to | Fine up to |
|---|---|---|
| ClassClass A felony | Prison up to20 years | Fine up to$250,000 |
| ClassClass B felony | Prison up to10 years | Fine up to$100,000 |
| ClassClass C felony | Prison up toFive years | Fine up to$50,000 |
| ClassClass A misdemeanor | Prison up toOne year | Fine up to$25,000 |
| ClassClass B misdemeanor | Prison up to90 days | Fine up to$2,000 |
| ClassViolation | Prison up toNone | Fine up to$500 |
A felony sentence falls within a presumptive range that grows with each earlier felony. For a class C felony it is zero to two years on a first felony conviction, and for a class B one to three years.
A violation is not a crime. A violation is a noncriminal offense punishable only by a fine, not jail, and a conviction for one carries none of the disabilities of a criminal conviction.
Sources for this section (5)
- AS 11.81.250 — Classification of offenses
- AS 12.55.125 — Sentences of imprisonment for felonies
- AS 12.55.135 — Sentences of imprisonment for misdemeanors
- AS 12.55.035 — Fines
- AS 11.81.900 — Definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alaska attorney.