{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-9.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-9.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-9.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-9.html"}],"law_id":351193,"edition_id":2,"section_id":351193,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-9","catch_line":"Classification of criminal offenses","history":"1975, cc. 14, 15.","full_text":"1\n\nFelonies are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing, into six classes:\n\na\n\nClass 1 felony\n\nb\n\nClass 2 felony\n\nc\n\nClass 3 felony\n\nd\n\nClass 4 felony\n\ne\n\nClass 5 felony\n\nf\n\nClass 6 felony.\n\n2\n\nMisdemeanors are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing, into four classes:\n\na\n\nClass 1 misdemeanor\n\nb\n\nClass 2 misdemeanor\n\nc\n\nClass 3 misdemeanor\n\nd\n\nClass 4 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1307874,"text":"Felonies are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing, into six classes:","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"next_prefix":"1a"},"1":{"id":1307875,"text":"Class 1 felony","type":"section","prefixes":["1","a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"1a","prefix_anchor":"1a","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"1b"},"2":{"id":1307876,"text":"Class 2 felony","type":"section","prefixes":["1","b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"1b","prefix_anchor":"1b","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1a","next_prefix":"1c"},"3":{"id":1307877,"text":"Class 3 felony","type":"section","prefixes":["1","c"],"prefix":"c","entire_prefix":"1c","prefix_anchor":"1c","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1b","next_prefix":"1d"},"4":{"id":1307878,"text":"Class 4 felony","type":"section","prefixes":["1","d"],"prefix":"d","entire_prefix":"1d","prefix_anchor":"1d","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1c","next_prefix":"1e"},"5":{"id":1307879,"text":"Class 5 felony","type":"section","prefixes":["1","e"],"prefix":"e","entire_prefix":"1e","prefix_anchor":"1e","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1d","next_prefix":"1f"},"6":{"id":1307880,"text":"Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["1","f"],"prefix":"f","entire_prefix":"1f","prefix_anchor":"1f","level":2,"prior_prefix":"1e","next_prefix":"2"},"7":{"id":1307881,"text":"Misdemeanors are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing, into four classes:","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1f","next_prefix":"2a"},"8":{"id":1307882,"text":"Class 1 misdemeanor","type":"section","prefixes":["2","a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"2a","prefix_anchor":"2a","level":2,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"2b"},"9":{"id":1307883,"text":"Class 2 misdemeanor","type":"section","prefixes":["2","b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"2b","prefix_anchor":"2b","level":2,"prior_prefix":"2a","next_prefix":"2c"},"10":{"id":1307884,"text":"Class 3 misdemeanor","type":"section","prefixes":["2","c"],"prefix":"c","entire_prefix":"2c","prefix_anchor":"2c","level":2,"prior_prefix":"2b","next_prefix":"2d"},"11":{"id":1307885,"text":"Class 4 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["2","d"],"prefix":"d","entire_prefix":"2d","prefix_anchor":"2d","level":2,"prior_prefix":"2c"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50134,"edition_id":2,"name":"Classification of Criminal Offenses and Punishment Therefor","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50132,"metadata":{"child_laws":11,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391177,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50134,"identifier":"3","token":"18.2\/1\/3","url":"\/18.2\/1\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50132,"edition_id":2,"name":"In General","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":18,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391143,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50132,"identifier":"1","token":"18.2\/1","url":"\/18.2\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350248,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-10","catch_line":"Punishment for conviction of felony; penalty","url":"\/18.2-10\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-10","metadata":false},{"id":350267,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-11","catch_line":"Punishment for conviction of misdemeanor","url":"\/18.2-11\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-11","metadata":false},{"id":350286,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-12","catch_line":"Same; where no punishment or maximum punishment prescribed","url":"\/18.2-12\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-12","metadata":false},{"id":350285,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-12.1","catch_line":"Mandatory minimum punishment; definition","url":"\/18.2-12.1\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-12.1","metadata":false},{"id":350300,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-13","catch_line":"Same; by reference","url":"\/18.2-13\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-13","metadata":false},{"id":350316,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-14","catch_line":"How unclassified offenses punished","url":"\/18.2-14\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-14","metadata":false},{"id":350334,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-15","catch_line":"Place of punishment","url":"\/18.2-15\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-15","metadata":false},{"id":350366,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-16","catch_line":"How common-law offenses punished","url":"\/18.2-16\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-16","metadata":false},{"id":350384,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-17","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-17\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-17","metadata":false},{"id":351181,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-8","catch_line":"Felonies, misdemeanors and traffic infractions defined","url":"\/18.2-8\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-8","metadata":false},{"id":351193,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-9","catch_line":"Classification of criminal offenses","url":"\/18.2-9\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":351181,"structure_id":50134,"section_number":"18.2-8","catch_line":"Felonies, misdemeanors and traffic infractions defined","url":"\/18.2-8\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-8","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-9\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 14 and 15 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1975 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1391219,"object_type":"law","relational_id":351193,"identifier":"18.2-9","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-9","url":"\/18.2-9\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-9\/","token":"18.2\/1\/3\/18.2-9","dublin_core":{"Title":"Classification of criminal offenses","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-9","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Felonies are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing, into six classes: <a id=\"paragraph-1307874\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1a\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">a.<\/span> Class 1 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307875\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#1a\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1b\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">b.<\/span> Class 2 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307876\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#1b\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1c\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">c.<\/span> Class 3 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307877\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#1c\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1d\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">d.<\/span> Class 4 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307878\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#1d\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1e\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">e.<\/span> Class 5 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307879\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#1e\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1f\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">f.<\/span> Class 6 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-1307880\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#1f\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">Misdemeanors<\/span> are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing, into four classes: <a id=\"paragraph-1307881\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2a\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">a.<\/span> Class 1 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307882\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#2a\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2b\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">b.<\/span> Class 2 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307883\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#2b\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2c\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">c.<\/span> Class 3 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span> <a id=\"paragraph-1307884\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#2c\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2d\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">d.<\/span> Class 4 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-1307885\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/18.2-9\/#2d\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES (\u00a7 18.2-9)\n\n1. Felonies are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing, into\nsix classes:\n\n   a. Class 1 felony\n\n   b. Class 2 felony\n\n   c. Class 3 felony\n\n   d. Class 4 felony\n\n   e. Class 5 felony\n\n   f. Class 6 felony.\n\n2. Misdemeanors are classified, for the purposes of punishment and sentencing,\ninto four classes:\n\n   a. Class 1 misdemeanor\n\n   b. Class 2 misdemeanor\n\n   c. Class 3 misdemeanor\n\n   d. Class 4 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, cc. 14, 15.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}