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RSMo 557.021effective 28 Aug 2020

Classification of offenses outside this code

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In plain English

Some crimes are written in Missouri law outside the main criminal code. This law says how to sort those crimes into classes (like Class A or Class B) based on how much jail or prison time someone could get. The class of the crime matters because it affects the punishment a person receives.

Penalties named in this law
class A misdemeanorup to 1 year in jail
class E felonyup to 4 years in prison
class A felony10–30 years or life in prison
class B felony5–15 years in prison
class C felony3–10 years in prison
class D felonyup to 7 years in prison
class B misdemeanorup to 6 months in jail
class C misdemeanorup to 15 days in jail
class D misdemeanorfine only (no jail)

Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.

Word-for-word law

557.021. of s outside this code. — 1. Any offense defined outside this code which is declared to be a without specification of the therefor is a .

2. Any offense defined outside this code which is declared to be a without specification of the penalty therefor is a .

3. For the purpose of applying the of section 558.016 and the of section 558.019 and for determining the penalty for attempts, offenses defined outside of this code shall be classified as follows:

(1) If the offense is a felony:

(a) It is a if the includes death, life imprisonment or imprisonment for a term of twenty years or more;

(b) It is a if the maximum term of imprisonment exceeds ten years but is less than twenty years;

(c) It is a if the maximum term of imprisonment authorized is ten years;

(d) It is a if the maximum term of imprisonment exceeds four years but is less than ten years;

(e) It is a class E felony if the maximum term of imprisonment is four years or less;

(2) If the offense is a misdemeanor:

(a) It is a class A misdemeanor if the authorized imprisonment exceeds six months in jail;

(b) It is a if the authorized imprisonment exceeds thirty days but is not more than six months;

(c) It is a if the authorized imprisonment is thirty days or less;

(d) It is a if it includes a as an and there is no authorized imprisonment;

(e) It is an if there is no authorized imprisonment.

Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.

Red section numbers link to that law.

Source & history notes

(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1340 & 1348, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491, A.L. 2016 H.B. 2332, A.L. 2020 S.B. 600) (1990) Absence of a stated maximum penalty merely indicates legislative intent that defendant convicted of that offense may be sentenced to any term of years above the minimum, including life imprisonment. Thurston v. State, 791 S.W.2d 893 (Mo.App.E.D.).

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 557.021: Classification of offenses outside this code | KnowMo Laws