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Types of Offenses
In Wisconsin, crimes are grouped into two main types: felonies and misdemeanors. The biggest difference between them is how serious the punishment is.
Felonies
Felonies are serious crimes. If someone is found guilty of a felony, they can go to state prison for more than one year. Felonies are split into nine classes, from Class A (most serious) to Class I (least serious). Listed below are the maximum prison sentences and examples of a felony within each of these classifications. Fine and probation in lieu of prison. are also options for some felonies.
Prison sentences in Wisconsin have two parts: an initial prison term and a term of extended supervision (served outside of prison under the supervision of the Department of Corrections). A person who breaks the rules of supervision can be sent back to prison. The list below shows the total that a person could spend in prison if they get sent back to prison after being released on supervision. The number in parentheses is the maximum initial prison term.
| Felony Class | Max Time in Prison | Max Fine | Examples |
| Class A | Life in prison | None | First-degree intentional homicide |
| Class B | Up to 60 (40) years | None | Reckless homicide, sexual assault of a child |
| Class C | Up to 40 (25) years | $100,000 | Armed robbery |
| Class D | Up to 25 (15) years | $100,000 | Hit-and-run causing death |
| Class E | Up to 15 (10) years | $50,000 | Aggravated battery |
| Class F | Up to 12.5 (7.5) years | $25,000 | Burglary |
| Class G | Up to 10 (5) years | $25,000 | Felon with a gun, 5th OWI |
| Class H | Up to 6 (3) years | $10,000 | Arson, felony bail jumping |
| Class I | Up to 3.5 (1.5) years | $10,000 | Theft of $2,500–$5,000 |
There are also some felony offenses outside of these nine classifications. For these offenses, the potential penalties are stated in the statute that defines the offense.
Misdemeanors are less serious crimes. If someone is found guilty of a misdemeanor, they can go to county jail for up to one year, pay a fine, or both.
Here are the classes:
| Misdemeanor Class | Max Time in Jail | Max Fine | Examples |
| Class A | Up to 9 months | $10,000 | Battery, theft under $2,500 |
| Class B | Up to 90 days | $1,000 | Disorderly conduct |
| Class C | Up to 30 days | $500 | Second underage drinking offense |
| Class U (Unclassified) | Varies | Varies | Second OWI, marijuana possession |
Other Offenses
Some things are not crimes but still break the rules. These are called civil forfeitures. You don’t go to jail for these, but you might have to pay a fine. Examples include traffic tickets or minor hunting violations.
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