WHAT EACH CHARGE CARRIES
12 charges people actually meet, each with the section it comes from, what it requires the state to show, and the most it can carry. New York sorts an offense into a violation, a class A or B misdemeanor, or a lettered felony, and the Penal Law fixes each class's longest term, so each level here names its class and that range. A violation is not a crime.
12 charges
Petit larceny and grand larceny
A MISD to C FELONY · up to Up to fifteen years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentence
Also searched as petit larceny, grand larceny, shoplifting, stealing, theft
Stealing property. Whatever its value it is at least petit larceny; the grand larceny degrees climb with the value and with what was taken.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Not more than 364 days$1,000 fine | WhenPetit larceny: stealing property, whatever its value |
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here fine | WhenGrand larceny in the fourth degree: worth more than $1,000, taken from another person's body, a credit or debit card, or a firearm, among others |
| C FELONYClass C felony | Up to fifteen years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here fine | WhenGrand larceny in the second degree: worth more than $50,000, or obtained by extortion through fear of future injury or damage |
Assault
A MISD to D FELONY · up to Up to seven years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentence
Also searched as assault in the third degree, assault in the second degree, hit someone, fight
Intending to cause physical injury and causing it, recklessly causing physical injury, or causing it with a deadly weapon through criminal negligence. Physical injury means impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Not more than 364 days$1,000 fine | WhenAssault in the third degree |
| D FELONYClass D felony | Up to seven years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here fine | WhenAssault in the second degree: intending and causing serious physical injury, causing injury with a deadly weapon, or injuring an officer or one of the listed workers to keep them from a lawful duty |
Harassment in the second degree
VIOLATION · up to Not more than fifteen days
Also searched as harassment, shoving, following someone
With intent to harass, annoy or alarm, striking, shoving or kicking someone or attempting or threatening to, following them in public, or a course of conduct that alarms or seriously annoys and serves no legitimate purpose.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| VIOLATIONViolation | Not more than fifteen days$250 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
Stalking in the fourth degree
B MISD · up to Not more than three months
Also searched as stalking, following, GPS tracking
Intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, directing a course of conduct at a specific person, knowing it is likely to cause reasonable fear of material harm, or harm to mental or emotional health after being clearly told to stop.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Not more than three months$500 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
Trespass and criminal trespass
VIOLATION to A MISD · up to Not more than 364 days
Also searched as trespassing, criminal trespass, refused to leave
Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in or upon premises, graded higher by the kind of place.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| VIOLATIONViolation | Not more than fifteen days$250 fine | WhenTrespass: knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully |
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Not more than three months$500 fine | WhenCriminal trespass in the third degree: fenced or enclosed property, a school against posted rules, public housing, or a posted railroad zone |
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Not more than 364 days$1,000 fine | WhenCriminal trespass in the second degree: a dwelling |
Criminal mischief
A MISD to E FELONY · up to Up to four years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentence
Also searched as vandalism, property damage, broke a phone
With no right to do it and no reasonable ground to believe there is one, intentionally damaging another person's property, or recklessly damaging it by more than $250.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Not more than 364 days$1,000 fine | WhenCriminal mischief in the fourth degree, including disabling a phone to keep someone from calling for help |
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here fine | WhenCriminal mischief in the third degree: intentionally damaging another's property by more than $250 |
Disorderly conduct
VIOLATION · up to Not more than fifteen days
Also searched as disturbing the peace, unreasonable noise, refusing to disperse
Intending to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly risking it: fighting, unreasonable noise, obscene language in public, disturbing a lawful meeting, obstructing traffic, refusing a lawful order to disperse, or creating a hazardous condition.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| VIOLATIONViolation | Not more than fifteen days$250 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
Resisting arrest
A MISD · up to Not more than 364 days
Also searched as resisting, pulled away from the officer
Intentionally preventing, or trying to prevent, a police officer or peace officer from making an authorized arrest of oneself or someone else.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Not more than 364 days$1,000 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
Unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle
A MISD · up to Not more than 364 days
Also searched as fleeing, car chase, did not pull over, eluding
Knowing a uniformed officer or marked police vehicle has directed the car to stop, trying to get away by driving twenty-five miles per hour or more above the speed limit, or by reckless driving.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Not more than 364 days$1,000 fine | WhenIn the third degree |
False personation
B MISD · up to Not more than three months
Also searched as false name, lying about my name, fake ID to police
After being told the consequences, knowingly misrepresenting one's actual name, date of birth or address to a police officer or peace officer, intending to keep the officer from learning it.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Not more than three months$500 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
Eavesdropping
E FELONY · up to Up to four years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentence
Also searched as wiretapping, secret recording, recording a call
Unlawfully engaging in wiretapping, mechanical overhearing of a conversation, or intercepting or accessing an electronic communication.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
Recording a conversation is mechanical overhearing only without the consent of at least one party, by a person not present.
Unlawful possession of cannabis
VIOLATION · up to Not more than fifteen days
Also searched as too much weed, marijuana possession, over three ounces
Knowingly and unlawfully possessing more than three ounces of cannabis, or more than twenty-four grams of concentrated cannabis.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| VIOLATIONViolation | Not more than fifteen days$125 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
Possessing up to three ounces, and up to twenty-four grams of concentrated cannabis, is lawful at twenty-one or older.
Every class on this page, for reference
Each range comes from the Penal Law's sentencing sections. Felony terms are the maximum of an indeterminate sentence, and felony fines are set by a section this guide does not carry.
- VIOLATIONViolationNot more than fifteen days$250
- B MISDClass B misdemeanorNot more than three months$500
- A MISDClass A misdemeanorNot more than 364 days$1,000
- E FELONYClass E felonyUp to four years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here
- D FELONYClass D felonyUp to seven years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here
- C FELONYClass C felonyUp to fifteen years, as the maximum of an indeterminate sentenceSet by the felony fine section, not carried here
Words on a charging document
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
23 words
- Aggravated unlicensed operationDriving while knowing, or having reason to know, the license is suspended or revoked. In the third degree, a misdemeanor with a fine of $200 to $500, up to thirty days, or both.
- Appearance ticketA written notice directing a person to appear in a named local criminal court at a set future time, issued instead of taking the person to court after an arrest for many lower offenses.
- Class A misdemeanorThe higher misdemeanor class, carrying up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
- Criminal mischiefIntentionally damaging another person's property with no right to do it, or recklessly damaging it by more than $250. In the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor.
- Criminal trespassTrespass raised to a crime by the place: fenced or enclosed property, a school against posted rules, or a public housing project, among others, is criminal trespass in the third degree, a class B misdemeanor.
- Disorderly conductFighting, unreasonable noise, obscene language in public, obstructing traffic or refusing a lawful order to disperse, intending public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly risking it.
- False personationAfter being told the consequences, knowingly misrepresenting one's actual name, date of birth or address to an officer, intending to keep the officer from learning it. A class B misdemeanor.
- Grand larcenyLarceny graded as a felony. In the fourth degree, a class E felony, it includes property worth more than $1,000.
- HarassmentWith intent to harass, annoy or alarm, touching, following in a public place, or a course of conduct that alarms or seriously annoys and serves no legitimate purpose.
- HazingIntentionally or recklessly engaging, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, in conduct that creates a substantial risk of physical injury to that person or a third person, including physical contact or required physical activity.
- Own recognizanceRelease on the person's own promise to return, which the court orders pending trial unless the charge is a qualifying offense or it finds this will not reasonably assure the person's return.
- Period of limitationThe time within which a criminal action must be commenced: within five years for most felonies, two years for a misdemeanor and one year for a petty offense, with no limit for a class A felony and the other offenses the section lists.
- Petit larcenyStealing property, whatever its value. A class A misdemeanor.
- Physical injuryImpairment of physical condition or substantial pain, the harm assault in the third degree turns on.
- Possession with intent to drinkA person under twenty-one possessing an alcoholic beverage intending to drink it, unless a parent or guardian gave it to them. The court may impose a fine of up to $50.
- Qualifying offenseA charge for which the court may fix bail, from a list that includes most violent felonies, class A felonies, felony sex offenses and witness intimidation.
- Resisting arrestIntentionally preventing, or trying to prevent, a police officer or peace officer from making an authorized arrest of oneself or someone else. A class A misdemeanor.
- SealingClosing a criminal record. A misdemeanor conviction is sealed automatically once at least three years have passed since release, or sentence if there was none, and a felony conviction once at least eight years have passed.
- StalkingIntentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, directing a course of conduct at a specific person that is likely to cause reasonable fear of material harm. In the fourth degree, a class B misdemeanor.
- Traffic infractionA category of offense of its own, separate from violations and crimes.
- Unlawful fleeingTrying to get away from a uniformed officer or marked police vehicle that signalled a stop, by driving twenty-five miles per hour or more above the speed limit, or by reckless driving. A class A misdemeanor in the third degree.
- Unlawful possession of cannabisKnowingly possessing more than three ounces of cannabis, or more than twenty-four grams of concentrated cannabis. A violation punishable by a fine of not more than $125.
- ViolationAn offense allowing no more than fifteen days in jail and a fine of up to $250. Disorderly conduct, harassment in the second degree and trespass are violations.
About this guide — maximums, not predictions. What a specific case carries turns on priors, the facts, and the court, and only a licensed New York attorney can tell you what yours is. Current as of October 2026.