Summary
Information as of June 18, 2025. Prepared by Peter G. Berris, Legislative Attorney; Cassandra J. Barnum, Legislative Attorney; and
Jamie Bush, Visual Information Specialist. Additional information about default nes, sentencing classifications, and punishment
may be found in CRS Report R48177, Components of Federal Criminal Law, by Peter G. Berris and Michael A. Foster (2024).
Source: 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3583(b).
a Federal supervised release refers to a period after incarceration during which defendants are monitored by the United States Probation Office for
compliance with court-ordered conditions of release. See CRS Legal Sidebar LSB10929, Can Retribution Justify the Revocation of Supervised Release?
Courts Disagree, by Dave S. Sidhu (2024).
b If the underlying statute species a ne greater than that specified in 18 U.S.C. § 3571, then the maximum is the amount authorized by the
underlying statute. 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(1). If, however, "a law setting forth an offense species no ne or a ne that is lower than the ne otherwise
applicable under [§ 3571]," then the higher ne under § 3571 is the maximum unless the other law "by specific reference, exempts the offense
from the applicability of the ne otherwise applicable under [§ 3571]." Id. § 3571(e).
c Federal law does not authorize supervised release for infractions. 18 U.S.C. § 3583(b).
d If "any person derives pecuniary gain from the offense, or if the offense results in pecuniary loss to a person other than the defendant," then the
maximum ne level is the greater of the amount specified or twice the gain or loss associated with the offense. 18 U.S.C. § 3571(d).
Sentencing classifications
and Default Federal Criminal Fines
by Authorized Prison Term
Class C misdemeanor $5,000; or $250,000
if offense results in
deathd
Class B misdemeanor
Class A misdemeanor
Class E felony $250,000d $500,000d
Class D felony $250,000d $500,000d
Class C felony $250,000d $500,000d
Class B felony $250,000d $500,000d
Class A felony $250,000d $500,000d
SENTENCING
CLASSIFICATION
CORRESPONDING
MAXIMUM FINE FOR
INDIVIDUALS IF NOT
OTHERWISE
SPECIFIEDb
"Thirty days or less
but more than ve
days"
"One year or less but
more than six
months"
"Six months or less
but more than thirty
days"
"Less than ve years
but more than one
year"
"Less than ten years
but ve or more
years"
"Twenty-ve years or
more"
"Life imprisonment,
or if the maximum
penalty is death"
"Less than twenty-ve
years but ten or more
years"
CORRESPONDING
PRISON TERM
AUTHORIZED BY
UNDERLYING
STATUTE
CORRESPONDING
TERM OF
SUPERVISED
RELEASEa AFTER
IMPRISONMENT
Infraction "Five days or less, or $5,000d $10,000d
if no imprisonment is
authorized"
$5,000; or $250,000
if oense results in
deathd
$10,000; or $500,000
if oense results in
deathd
$10,000; or $500,000
if oense results in
deathd
$100,000; or $250,000
if oense results in
deathd
$200,000; or $500,000
if oense results in
deathd
CORRESPONDING
MAXIMUM FINE FOR
ORGANIZATIONS IF
NOT OTHERWISE
SPECIFIEDb
"Not more than one
year"
"Not more than one
year"
"Not more than one
year"
"Not more than one
year"
"Not more than three
years"
"Not more than ve
years"
"Not more than ve
years"
"Not more than three
years"
Nonec
Instead of explicitly providing a ne amount, many federal criminal statutes authorize nes by stating that
violators shall be denied under, or in accordance with, Title 18 of the United States Code. Such language
triggers 18 U.S.C. § 3571, a default statute that sets the maximum authorized ne based on the classification
of the underlying offense, which itself depends on the maximum authorized prison term. This infographic
depicts the sentencing classification and default ne that typically corresponds to a particular statute based
on the maximum prison term authorized. For example, for offenses punishable by a maximum of one year of
imprisonment (Class A misdemeanors), the maximum authorized ne for individuals is generally $100,000.
The infographic also depicts maximum supervised release terms following imprisonment, which are set by
18 U.S.C. § 3583(b) based on sentencing classification.
Document ID: IG10074