Penal Law § 55.05

Classifications of felonies and misdemeanors

§ 55.05 Classifications of felonies and misdemeanors.

1. Felonies. Felonies are classified, for the purpose of sentence, into five categories as follows:

(a) Class A felonies;

(b) Class B felonies;

(d) Class D felonies; and

(e) Class E felonies.

Class A felonies are subclassified, for the purpose of sentence, into two categories as follows: subclass I and subclass II, to be known as class A-I and class A-II felonies, respectively.

2. Misdemeanors. Misdemeanors are classified, for the purpose of sentence, into three categories as follows:

(a) Class A misdemeanors;

(b) Class B misdemeanors; and

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/55.05

In plain English

Felonies → five classes: A, B, C, D, E (A is most serious, E least). Class A is subdivided into A-I and A-II. ★
Misdemeanors → three categories: Class A, Class B, and "unclassified." ★

★ Memorize the counts: 5 felony classes (A–E, with A-I / A-II), 3 misdemeanor categories (A, B, unclassified). These classes drive the sentencing ranges — jail terms live in Art. 70, fines in Art. 80.

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 4 — The JG-22 Penal Law and in Volume 1 — The JG-22 in Plain English.