Every Missouri felony is assigned a class, A through E, and the class sets the range of punishment the judge can impose. When a charging document says “class D felony,” that label tells you most of what you need to know about the possible sentence.
This guide lays out each felony and misdemeanor class under current Missouri law, the prison and fine ranges, how prior convictions can raise the class, and how probation and an SIS fit in. A 2026 law changes parole eligibility rules for offenses committed on or after January 1, 2028; this guide covers the law in effect now.
Felonies
What are the felony classes in Missouri?
Five classes, under RSMo 558.011. The prison terms below are the full authorized range.
Class A felony
10 to 30 years, or life. Examples: second degree murder, and first degree assault when serious physical injury results.
Class B felony
5 to 15 years. Example: first degree assault without serious physical injury.
Class C felony
3 to 10 years, and a fine of up to $10,000. Example: unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with a prior felony.
Class D felony
Up to 7 years, and a fine of up to $10,000. Examples: possession of a controlled substance, and second degree assault.
Class E felony
Up to 4 years, and a fine of up to $10,000. Example: third degree assault, which is knowingly causing physical injury.
Jail instead of prison
For class D and E felonies, the judge can impose a term of up to one year in the county jail instead of a prison sentence. Class A, B, and C felonies carry a minimum prison term if a sentence is imposed and executed.
Misdemeanors
What are the misdemeanor classes in Missouri?
Four classes, under RSMo 558.011 and 558.002.
- Class A misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Example: most fourth degree assault.
- Class B misdemeanor: up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
- Class C misdemeanor: up to 15 days in jail and a fine of up to $750.
- Class D misdemeanor: a fine of up to $500, with no jail term.
Not sure whether a specific charge is a felony? See Is assault a felony in Missouri? and drug possession charges in Missouri.
Prior record
How do prior convictions affect a Missouri sentence?
They can raise the punishment range by one class, and for drug offenses, by two.
Persistent and dangerous offenders
Under RSMo 558.016, a “persistent offender” has been found guilty of two or more felonies committed at different times, or of a prior dangerous felony. A persistent or dangerous offender convicted of a class B, C, D, or E felony is sentenced in the range for the next class up. A class D felony becomes a class C range: 3 to 10 years instead of up to 7.
Prior and persistent drug offenders
Under RSMo 579.170, a person with one prior drug felony who is convicted of a class C, D, or E drug felony is sentenced one class higher. A person with two or more prior drug felonies is sentenced two classes higher. For a possession charge, that can turn an up-to-7-year range into 5 to 15 years.
These enhancements are not automatic. The prior findings of guilt have to be pleaded and proven, and when they are, the judge rather than the jury decides the sentence. Whether an old conviction actually qualifies is often worth checking.
Probation
Can you get probation for a felony in Missouri?
Often, yes, unless a statute says otherwise.
Under RSMo 559.016, felony probation lasts one to five years and misdemeanor probation six months to two years. The judge can place a person on probation in one of two ways:
- Suspended imposition of sentence (SIS). No sentence is imposed. If probation is completed, the case closes without a conviction on the person’s record.
- Suspended execution of sentence (SES). A sentence is imposed but not carried out while the person is on probation. It is a conviction from the start.
Some offenses and some prior records rule out probation or an SIS, and certain serious offenses, called dangerous felonies, require a person to serve 85 percent of a prison sentence before parole eligibility.
The difference matters for jobs, licenses, and gun rights. See SIS vs SES in Missouri. Between probation and prison, see Missouri’s 120-day programs. After sentencing, see jail time credit and concurrent and consecutive sentences.
FAQ
Missouri sentencing questions
What is a class D felony in Missouri?
A class D felony carries up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The judge can instead impose up to one year in the county jail, or probation. Possession of a controlled substance other than small amounts of marijuana is a class D felony.
What is a class E felony in Missouri?
The lowest felony class, with up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Like class D, it allows up to one year in the county jail instead of prison. Third degree assault is a class E felony.
What is the lowest felony in Missouri?
Class E. It is still a felony, with the consequences that follow a felony conviction, including the loss of firearm rights under state and federal law.
Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor in Missouri?
A felony charge can sometimes be amended to a misdemeanor as part of a negotiated resolution, or the evidence may support only a lesser offense. Whether that is realistic depends on the facts, the evidence, and the person’s record.
Is an SIS a conviction in Missouri?
No. If probation is completed, an SIS closes the case without a conviction under Missouri law. Some licensing boards and applications still ask about it, so it is not invisible.
See our criminal defense page, or call 573-638-8529. Charged in a specific county? Jefferson City and Cole County, Columbia and Boone County, or Fulton and Callaway County.
Talk to us
The range is not the sentence.
The class sets the limits. The facts, the evidence, and the defense decide where a case lands within them, or whether it lands there at all.
Attorney advertising. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. This article is general information about Missouri sentencing law as of October 2026, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The outcome of any case depends on its facts.
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