Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§3581 Sentence of imprisonment

Title 18 › Part PART II— - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 227— - SENTENCES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER D— - IMPRISONMENT › § 3581

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Someone found guilty of a crime can be sent to jail or prison. The maximum jail or prison time depends on the class of the offense: Class A felony — life in prison or any length of time; Class B felony — up to 25 years; Class C felony — up to 12 years; Class D felony — up to 6 years; Class E felony — up to 3 years; Class A misdemeanor — up to 1 year; Class B misdemeanor — up to 6 months; Class C misdemeanor — up to 30 days; infraction — up to 5 days.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §3581

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A defendant who has been found guilty of an offense may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

(b)The authorized terms of imprisonment are—

(1)for a Class A felony, the duration of the defendant’s life or any period of time;

(2)for a Class B felony, not more than twenty-five years;

(3)for a Class C felony, not more than twelve years;

(4)for a Class D felony, not more than six years;

(5)for a Class E felony, not more than three years;

(6)for a Class A misdemeanor, not more than one year;

(7)for a Class B misdemeanor, not more than six months;

(8)for a Class C misdemeanor, not more than thirty days; and

(9)for an infraction, not more than five days.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of this section, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 3551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 3581

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73