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 Kansas, as in other states, criminal offenses are categorized into felonies and misdemeanors based on their severity, with felonies being the more serious crimes. Felonies in Kansas are punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, while misdemeanors are punishable by a maximum of one year in jail. The specific classification of crimes and the corresponding penalties are determined by Kansas state statutes. The Kansas legislature has the authority to define state criminal offenses and their classifications. For federal offenses, the United States Congress is responsible for setting penalties and categorizing crimes as either felonies or misdemeanaries. Federal felonies typically involve more severe penalties, including longer prison sentences, while federal misdemeanors may result in shorter sentences or fines.