Criminal offenses under state and federal laws are generally categorized by the seriousness of the crime as felonies (more serious) or misdemeanors (less serious). Felonies are offenses that generally may result in prison sentences of more than one year, and misdemeanors carry sentences of one year or less. The United States Congress sets the penalties for all federal criminal offenses, and thus decides which criminal offenses are felonies and which are misdemeanors. And the state legislature in each state decides which criminal offenses are felonies and which are misdemeanors under state law.
In Louisiana (LA), criminal offenses are indeed categorized into felonies and misdemeanors based on their severity, similar to the federal system. Felonies in Louisiana are serious crimes that can result in imprisonment for more than one year, and in some cases, may even lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on the nature of the crime. Misdemeanors in Louisiana are less serious offenses and typically carry penalties of fines, community service, probation, and/or imprisonment for up to one year. The Louisiana State Legislature is responsible for defining state crimes and their respective classifications and penalties. The classification of a particular offense as a felony or misdemeanor under Louisiana law will be detailed in the Louisiana Revised Statutes, which is the collection of laws passed by the state legislature.