IG10074 — Sentencing Classification and Default Federal Criminal Fines by Authorized Prison Term

/ Information as of June 18, 2025. Prepared by Peter G. Berris, Legislative Attorney; Cassandra J. Barnum, Legislative Attorney; and Jamie Bush, Visual Information Specialist. Additional information about default nes, sentencing classifications, and punishment may be found in CRS Report R48177, Components of Federal Criminal Law, by Peter G. Berris and Michael A. Foster (2024). Source: 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3583(b). a Federal supervised release refers to a period after incarceration during which defendants are monitored by the United States Probation Office for compliance with court-ordered conditions of release. See CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10929, Can Retribution Justify the Revocation of Supervised Release? Courts Disagree, by Dave S. Sidhu (2024). b If the underlying statute species a ne greater than that specified in 18 U.S.C. § 3571, then the maximum is the amount authorized by the underlying statute. 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(1). If, however, “a law setting forth an offense species no ne or a ne that is lower than the ne otherwise applicable under [§ 3571],” then the higher ne under § 3571 is the maximum unless the other law “by specific reference, exempts the offense from the applicability of the ne otherwise applicable under [§ 3571].” Id. § 3571(e). c Federal law does not authorize supervised release for infractions. 18 U.S.C. § 3583(b). d If “any person derives pecuniary gain from the offense, or if the offense results in pecuniary loss to a person other than the defendant,” then the maximum ne level is the greater of the amount specified or twice the gain or loss associated with the offense. 18 U.S.C. § 3571(d). Sentencing classifications and Default Federal Criminal Fines by Authorized Prison Term Class C misdemeanor $5,000; or $250,000 if offense results in deathd Class B misdemeanor Class A misdemeanor Class E felony $250,000d $500,000d Class D felony $250,000d $500,000d Class C felony $250,000d $500,000d Class B felony $250,000d $500,000d Class A felony $250,000d $500,000d SENTENCING CLASSIFICATION CORRESPONDING MAXIMUM FINE FOR INDIVIDUALS IF NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIEDb “Thirty days or less but more than ve days” “One year or less but more than six months” “Six months or less but more than thirty days” “Less than ve years but more than one year” “Less than ten years but ve or more years” “Twenty-ve years or more” “Life imprisonment, or if the maximum penalty is death” “Less than twenty-ve years but ten or more years” CORRESPONDING PRISON TERM AUTHORIZED BY UNDERLYING STATUTE CORRESPONDING TERM OF SUPERVISED RELEASEa AFTER IMPRISONMENT Infraction “Five days or less, or $5,000d $10,000d if no imprisonment is authorized” $5,000; or $250,000 if oense results in deathd $10,000; or $500,000 if oense results in deathd $10,000; or $500,000 if oense results in deathd $100,000; or $250,000 if oense results in deathd $200,000; or $500,000 if oense results in deathd CORRESPONDING MAXIMUM FINE FOR ORGANIZATIONS IF NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIEDb “Not more than one year” “Not more than one year” “Not more than one year” “Not more than one year” “Not more than three years” “Not more than ve years” “Not more than ve years” “Not more than three years” Nonec Instead of explicitly providing a ne amount, many federal criminal statutes authorize nes by stating that violators shall be denied under, or in accordance with, Title 18 of the United States Code. Such language triggers 18 U.S.C. § 3571, a default statute that sets the maximum authorized ne based on the classification of the underlying offense, which itself depends on the maximum authorized prison term. This infographic depicts the sentencing classification and default ne that typically corresponds to a particular statute based on the maximum prison term authorized. For example, for offenses punishable by a maximum of one year of imprisonment (Class A misdemeanors), the maximum authorized ne for individuals is generally $100,000. The infographic also depicts maximum supervised release terms following imprisonment, which are set by 18 U.S.C. § 3583(b) based on sentencing classification.

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