| Category |
Maximum Sanction |
Examples |
| Petty Misdemeanor |
Fine of up to $300.
Not a crime
because incarceration is not an allowable sanction |
Most traffic violations |
| Misdemeanor |
90 days in jail and/or up to $1,000 fine |
Driving without a license;
Simple assault (such as punching someone);
First-time DWI;
Theft of property worth less than $500* |
|
Gross Misdemeanor |
One year in jail and/or up to $3,000 fine |
Second DWI in ten years;
Second assault in ten years against same victim;
Theft of property worth between $500 and $1,000* |
|
Felony |
Over one year imprisonment and/or up to maximum fine specified
in law. Maximum imprisonment penalties range from 366
days to life imprisonment. |
Murder and manslaughter;
Most criminal sexual conduct crimes;
Theft of property worth more than $1,000* |
| *Theft thresholds are effective August 1, 2007. |
Higher level crimes demand more time and resources from the
judicial system. However, lower level crimes are committed with far greater
frequency than higher level crimes. Therefore, on balance, all levels of crime
place significant burdens on criminal justice resources.
The penalty for any particular crime will vary depending on
the facts of the case and the criminal history of the offender. Sentence lengths
can and do fall anywhere within the possible spectrum. For more on sentencing,
see
The Sentencing Stage.
Note that in many states, any crime for which less than a
year in prison may be imposed is a misdemeanor. Minnesota, however, utilizes a
separate gross misdemeanor category in between felonies and misdemeanors.
Under Minnesota's structure, a gross misdemeanor is not a subcategory of
misdemeanor, but is instead its own category that is more severe than a
misdemeanor.
Within the felony category, the sentencing guidelines
further break down offenses based on severity. For more on felony sentencing, see
The Sentencing Stage.
June 2007