What An Offense Level Means
G.S. 15A-1340.17 — felony classes A through I, and a prior record level that sets the range
In North Carolina, a felony is a crime that was a felony at common law, is or may be punishable by death, is or may be punishable by imprisonment in the State's prison, or is called a felony by statute. Any other crime is a misdemeanor.
Each felony carries the class the statute for the offense gives it, from A down to I, and a felony with no classification is a Class I felony. The punishment depends on the class and on the defendant's prior record level, from Level I, for 0 to 1 points, to Level VI, for 18 points or more.
| Class | Presumptive minimum, Level I | Presumptive minimum, Level VI |
|---|---|---|
| ClassA | Presumptive minimum, Level ILife imprisonment with or without parole, or death, as established by statute | Presumptive minimum, Level VIThe same |
| ClassB1 | Presumptive minimum, Level I192 to 240 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI386 to 483 months |
| ClassB2 | Presumptive minimum, Level I125 to 157 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI251 to 314 months |
| ClassC | Presumptive minimum, Level I58 to 73 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI117 to 146 months |
| ClassD | Presumptive minimum, Level I51 to 64 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI103 to 128 months |
| ClassE | Presumptive minimum, Level I20 to 25 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI40 to 50 months |
| ClassF | Presumptive minimum, Level I13 to 16 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI26 to 33 months |
| ClassG | Presumptive minimum, Level I10 to 13 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI20 to 25 months |
| ClassH | Presumptive minimum, Level I5 to 6 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI16 to 20 months |
| ClassI | Presumptive minimum, Level I4 to 6 months | Presumptive minimum, Level VI8 to 10 months |
What each cell holds. Every cell of the chart has a presumptive range of minimum terms, with a mitigated range below it and an aggravated range above it for when the court finds a mitigated or aggravated sentence justified. It also names the sentences allowed: C for a community punishment, I for an intermediate punishment, A for an active one. At Level I, Classes B1 through D call for an active punishment, E through G allow intermediate or active, H allows any of the three, and Class I a community punishment.
The maximum follows the minimum. For each minimum term, the section sets the matching maximum in tables of its own: for Class F through I felonies, a minimum of 10 months carries a maximum of 21, and for Class B1 through E, a minimum of 58 months carries a maximum of 82.
Misdemeanors have a chart of their own. Misdemeanors are sorted into Class A1 and Classes 1 through 3, with a separate punishment chart, set out on the page about what a misdemeanor class means.
Aggravating and mitigating factors, how prior record points are counted, habitual offender statuses, and punishments a statute sets for its own crime are not on this page. What a particular charge carries is a question for a licensed North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- G.S. 15A-1340.17 — Punishment limits for each class of offense and prior record level
- G.S. 14-1 — Felonies and misdemeanors defined
- G.S. 15A-1340.23 — Punishment limits for each class of misdemeanor
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.