Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110
§3581 Sentence of Imprisonment
Title 18 › PART II — CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › CHAPTER 227 — SENTENCES › SUBCHAPTER D — IMPRISONMENT › § 3581
Summary
A person found guilty of an offense can be given time in prison. The maximum prison terms depend on the class of the offense and range from life or any period of time for a Class A felony down to 5 days for an infraction; specific caps are: Class B 25 years, Class C 12 years, Class D 6 years, Class E 3 years, Class A misdemeanor 1 year, Class B misdemeanor 6 months, Class C misdemeanor 30 days.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §3581
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
A defendant who has been found guilty of an offense may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
(b)Authorized Terms.—
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
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110