What An Offense Level Means
NRS chapter 193 — a misdemeanor, a gross misdemeanor, and felonies from category E to category A
Nevada sorts every crime into three kinds. A crime that may be punished by death or by imprisonment in the state prison is a felony. A crime punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by not more than 6 months in a county jail, is a misdemeanor. Every other crime is a gross misdemeanor.
| Level | The general limits |
|---|---|
| LevelMisdemeanor | The general limitsUp to 6 months in the county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both |
| LevelGross misdemeanor | The general limitsUp to 364 days in the county jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both |
| LevelCategory E felony | The general limitsA prison term with a minimum of not less than 1 year and a maximum of not more than 4 years, which the court suspends, granting probation, except in the cases the section names; a fine of up to $5,000 |
| LevelCategory D felony | The general limitsA minimum of not less than 1 year and a maximum of not more than 4 years in prison; a fine of up to $5,000 |
| LevelCategory C felony | The general limitsA minimum of not less than 1 year and a maximum of not more than 5 years in prison; a fine of up to $10,000 |
| LevelCategory B felony | The general limitsA minimum of not less than 1 year and a maximum of not more than 20 years, within the range the offense's own section sets |
| LevelCategory A felony | The general limitsDeath, or life in prison with or without the possibility of parole, as the offense's own section provides |
A felony sentence has two numbers. Except for a category A felony, a person convicted of a felony is sentenced to a minimum term and a maximum term, and the minimum may not exceed 40 percent of the maximum the court imposes.
These are the general limits. A section that defines an offense can set its own penalty, and where it does, that penalty governs. In place of all or part of a misdemeanor's punishment, the court may order a fixed period of community service. A category E felony's probation can include up to 1 year in the county jail.
Sources for this section (4)
- NRS 193.120 — Classification of crimes
- NRS 193.130 — Categories and punishment of felonies
- NRS 193.140 — Punishment of gross misdemeanors
- NRS 193.150 — Punishment of misdemeanors
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Nevada attorney.