Felony in Missouri
State-specific overview · Criminal Law
Missouri defines felonies as crimes punishable by more than one year in prison, with a detailed classification system (Classes A through D).
How Missouri treats Felony
Missouri classifies felonies into four categories: Class A (most serious, including capital crimes), Class B, Class C, and Class D, each with distinct sentencing ranges. The state uses the one-year threshold to distinguish felonies from misdemeanors. Felony convictions in Missouri carry collateral consequences including voting rights loss during incarceration and firearm restrictions for certain offense types.
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 Missouri.