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 Rhode Island (RI), as in other states, criminal offenses are categorized into felonies and misdemeanaries based on their severity. Felonies are the more serious crimes, typically punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, and can include offenses such as murder, rape, and robbery. Misdemeanors are less serious offenses and are generally punishable by imprisonment for one year or less. Examples of misdemeanors might include petty theft or simple assault. The classification of crimes and the corresponding penalties at the federal level are determined by the United States Congress. Similarly, the Rhode Island General Assembly is responsible for defining state-level criminal offenses and their classifications as either felonies or misdemeanors. The specific statutes and penalties can be found in the Rhode Island General Laws, which outline the state's criminal code.