Assault and Disorderly:  Classifications

Felonies, Misdemeanors, and Forfeitures

Being arrested and charged for a criminal offense can result in severe penalties if your interests are not protected by an experienced criminal defense attorney. With over a decade of experience practicing criminal law, Mays Law Office, LLC provides the knowledge and the courtroom skill to aggressively defend its clients. The following is an overview of forfeiture, misdemeanor, and felony classifications in Wisconsin. For more information, consult with an experienced attorney from the Mays Law Office, LLC.

Wisconsin Statutes

939.50. Classification of Felonies

I. Felonies in the statutes are classified as follows:

a. Class A Felony
b. Class B Felony
c. Class C Felony
d. Class D Felony
e. Class E Felony
f. Class F Felony
g. Class G Felony
h. Class H Felony
i. Class I Felony

II. A Felony is a Class A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, or I Felony when it is so specified in the statutes.

III. Penalties for Felonies are as follows:

a. For a Class A Felony, life imprisonment
b. For a Class B Felony, imprisonment not to exceed 60 years
c. For a Class C Felony, a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, or both
d. For a Class D Felony, a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, or both
e. For a Class E Felony, a fine not to exceed $50,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both
f. For a Class F Felony, a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 years and 6 months, or both
g. For a Class G Felony, a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both
h. For a Class H Felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 6 years, or both
i. For a Class I Felony, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 3 years and 6 months, or both

As a general rule, the Act classifies the criminal offenses based on the degree of actual or potential harm involved in their commission. The four general standards used in fitting existing crimes into the classification structure are as follows:

1. Persons guilty of crimes resulting in death or serious physical harm to others are subject to heavy punishments
2. Other offenses involving less serious harm to persons generally have been considered more serious than crimes against property alone
3. Given an equal degree of physical harm to persons, crimes involving actual or potential harm to both persons and property are punished more severely than offenses resulting in harm only to persons
4. Crimes involving actual or potential harm to a number of people or to the general public are considered more serious than other offenses with a similar degree of harm but not more limited in scope or application

939.51. Classification of misdemeanors

I. Misdemeanors in chs. 939 to 951 are classified as follows:

a. Class A misdemeanor
b. Class B misdemeanor
c. Class C misdemeanor

II. A misdemeanor is a Class A, B or C misdemeanor when it is so specified in chs. 939 to 951.

III. Penalties for misdemeanors are as follows:

a. For a Class A misdemeanor, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both
b. For a Class B misdemeanor, a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both.
c. For a Class C misdemeanor, a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both.

As a general rule, the Act classifies the criminal offenses based on the degree of actual or potential harm involved in their commission. The four general standards used in fitting existing crimes into the classification structure are as follows:

1. Persons guilty of crimes resulting in death or serious physical harm to others are subject to heavy punishments
2. Other offenses involving less serious harm to persons generally have been considered more serious than crimes against property alone
3. Given an equal degree of physical harm to persons, crimes involving actual or potential harm to both persons and property are punished more severely than offenses resulting in harm only to persons
4. Crimes involving actual or potential harm to a number of people or to the general public are considered more serious than other offenses with a similar degree of harm but more limited in scope or application

939.52. Classification of Forfeitures

I. Except as provided in ss. 946.86 and 946.87, forfeitures in chs. 939 to 951 are classified as follows:

a. Class A forfeiture
b. Class B forfeiture
c. Class C forfeiture
d. Class D forfeiture
e. Class E forfeiture

II. A forfeiture is a Class A, B, C, D or E forfeiture when it is so specified in chs. 939 to 951.

III. Penalties for forfeitures are as follows:

a. For a Class A forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $10,000
b. For a Class B forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $1,000
c. For a Class C forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $500
d. For a Class D forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $200
e. For a Class E forfeiture, a forfeiture not to exceed $25

As a general rule, the Act classifies the criminal offenses based on the degree of actual or potential harm involved in their commission. The four general standards used in fitting existing crimes into the classification structure are as follows:

1. Persons guilty of crimes resulting in death or serious physical harm to others are subject to heavy punishments
2. Other offenses involving less serious harm to persons generally have been considered more serious than crimes against property alone
3. Given an equal degree of physical harm to persons, crimes involving actual or potential harm to both persons and property are punished more severely than offenses resulting in harm only to persons
4. Crimes involving actual or potential harm to a number of people or to the general public are considered more serious than other offenses with a similar degree of harm but more limited in scope or application