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 Tennessee, criminal offenses are classified as either felonies or misdemeanors based on their severity, with felonies being the more serious category. Felonies in Tennessee are crimes that can lead to prison sentences of more than one year, while misdemeanors are punishable by one year or less in jail. The classification of crimes and the corresponding penalties at the federal level are determined by the United States Congress. Similarly, the Tennessee state legislature is responsible for defining which offenses constitute felonies and misdemeanors under state law. The specific classification and penalties for various offenses are outlined in the Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA), which provides a comprehensive framework for the administration of criminal justice in the state.