Felony in Minnesota
State-specific overview · Criminal Law
Minnesota defines felonies as crimes with a sentence exceeding one year, with enhanced penalties for repeat offenders under sentencing guidelines.
How Minnesota treats Felony
Minnesota uses the one-year imprisonment threshold to distinguish felonies from misdemeanors. The state employs structured sentencing guidelines that increase penalties based on criminal history and offense severity. A felony conviction in Minnesota results in loss of certain rights, including voting rights during incarceration and, for some offenses, firearm possession restrictions.
The general definition of Felony
A serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison or death.
A felony is the most serious category of crime in the US criminal system. The key distinction is punishment: if a conviction can result in more than one year of imprisonment, it's a felony. Felonies include crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and drug trafficking. A felony conviction carries long-term consequences, including loss of voting rights, gun ownership restrictions, and difficulty finding employment.
Read the full Felony entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Minnesota.