{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "55.05", "citation": "Penal Law § 55.05", "heading": "Classifications of felonies and misdemeanors", "text": ["§ 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;", "(c) Class C 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", "(c) Unclassified misdemeanors."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/55.05", "from_official_api": true, "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.** ★\n- **Misdemeanors → three categories: Class A, Class B, and \"unclassified.\"** ★\n\n★ 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**.", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/55.05", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}