Last updated: September 3, 2026
Illinois sorts every criminal offense into a class, and the class sets the sentencing range. This page is a reference chart for those ranges, drawn from the Unified Code of Corrections at 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5.
Two cautions before the tables. Individual statutes often override the general range for a specific offense — firearm enhancements, drug-quantity thresholds, and habitual-offender provisions all shift the numbers. And a range is not a prediction: what a defendant actually receives depends on the facts, the criminal history, the courtroom, and the negotiation.
Felony sentencing ranges
Each class below links to a detailed guide on our Illinois felony charges section.
Felony table
| Class | Prison term | Extended term | Probation? | Max probation | MSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First degree murder | 20–60 years | 60–100 years | No | — | 3 years |
| Class X | 6–30 years | 30–60 years | No | — | 3 years |
| Class 1 | 4–15 years | 15–30 years | Sometimes | 4 years | 2 years |
| Class 2 | 3–7 years | 7–14 years | Sometimes | 4 years | 2 years |
| Class 3 | 2–5 years | 5–10 years | Yes | 30 months | 1 year |
| Class 4 | 1–3 years | 3–6 years | Yes | 30 months | 1 year |
Statutory citations: first degree murder; Class X; Class 1; Class 2; Class 3; Class 4.
Maximum fine for most felonies is $25,000, or the amount specified by the individual offense statute. See 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(b).
Class X is the line that matters most. Probation is not an authorized disposition. A Class X conviction means prison, and the only question is how long. Periodic imprisonment and impact incarceration are also off the table.
Whether an offense qualifies as a forcible felony under 720 ILCS 5/2-8 affects sentencing, probation eligibility, and several collateral consequences.
Misdemeanor and petty offense ranges
See our Illinois misdemeanor charges section for class-by-class detail.
Misdemeanor table
| Class | Jail term | Maximum fine | Max probation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 364 days | $2,500 | 2 years |
| Class B misdemeanor | Up to 6 months | $1,500 | 2 years |
| Class C misdemeanor | Up to 30 days | $1,500 | 2 years |
| Petty offense | None | $1,000 | — |
| Business offense | None | Set by statute | — |
Citations: Class A; Class B; Class C; petty offense.
Misdemeanor jail time is served in county jail. Felony sentences are served in the Illinois Department of Corrections. That distinction — county versus IDOC — is the practical dividing line between a misdemeanor and a felony in Illinois.
The Class A maximum is 364 days rather than a full year by legislative design. A sentence of one year or more can trigger aggravated-felony treatment under federal immigration law, and the one-day gap keeps a Class A conviction below that threshold.
Extended terms
An extended term roughly doubles the ceiling. It is not automatic. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-8-2, a court may impose one only when a statutory aggravating factor is present — most commonly a prior conviction of the same or greater class within the preceding ten years, but the list also includes offenses against victims under 12 or over 60, offenses motivated by bias, and several others.
Class X sentencing by criminal history
A defendant can be sentenced as a Class X offender without being convicted of a Class X offense. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95(b), a Class 1 or Class 2 felony conviction is sentenced as a Class X felony when the defendant is over 21 and has two prior qualifying Class 2 or greater convictions arising from separate incidents.
The practical effect is severe: a defendant facing what looks like a 3-to-7 year exposure is suddenly facing 6 to 30 with no probation available. This provision surprises more defendants than any other in the sentencing code.
Mandatory supervised release
MSR — what most states call parole — follows a prison sentence and is served in the community under Department of Corrections supervision. The terms in the table above are the general rule under each class provision. Certain sex offenses carry substantially longer or indeterminate MSR terms, and 730 ILCS 5/3-3-8 governs discharge.
MSR runs after the prison term. It is not deducted from it.
How much time is actually served
Sentence credit under 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3 determines actual time served, and it varies by offense:
- Most offenses earn day-for-day credit, meaning roughly half the imposed sentence
- Certain serious offenses are subject to truth-in-sentencing, requiring 85% of the term
- First degree murder requires service of the entire sentence with no credit
Additional programming, educational, and earned discretionary credits can reduce time further for eligible offenders. Because credit rules have been amended repeatedly, the current statute should be checked for any specific offense.
Before sentencing: pretrial release
Illinois eliminated cash bail under the Pretrial Fairness Act. Whether a defendant is detained pending trial now turns on a detention hearing rather than an ability to post bond. See our guide to the Cook County detention hearing under the Pretrial Fairness Act.
Sentences that are not convictions
Not every disposition produces a conviction. Court supervision, probation, and conditional discharge are three different outcomes with very different consequences for your record, your license, and your future eligibility for expungement. Supervision in particular is not a conviction — an important distinction in DUI, retail theft, and first-offense cases.
Reading the chart correctly
Three mistakes people make with a sentencing table:
Assuming the range is the sentence. Judges sentence within the range based on statutory aggravating and mitigating factors under 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1 and 5-5-3.2. The minimum is common in many cases.
Ignoring consecutive sentencing. Multiple counts can run consecutively under 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4, and mandatory consecutive sentencing applies to certain offense combinations. Total exposure can far exceed any single range.
Overlooking firearm enhancements. Add-ons for possessing, discharging, or causing injury with a firearm attach mandatory years on top of the base range for many offenses. These enhancements frequently exceed the underlying sentence. See, for example, aggravated discharge of a firearm in Illinois.
Related guides
- Cook County criminal defense practice overview
- Arrested for DUI in Cook County: what happens next
- Illinois Eavesdropping Act (720 ILCS 5/14) explained
- Key changes to Illinois marijuana laws
- Choosing a criminal defense attorney
This chart states general Illinois sentencing ranges and is not legal advice. Individual offense statutes, enhancements, and criminal history routinely change the applicable range. If you are facing charges, consult a licensed Illinois attorney about your specific case.
Law Offices of Mitch Furman, P.C.
77 West Wacker Drive, 45th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
312-236-7078
Sources
- 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-10 through 5-4.5-100 (classification and sentencing)
- 730 ILCS 5/5-8-2 (extended terms)
- 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4 (consecutive sentences)
- 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3 (sentence credit)
- 730 ILCS 5/3-3-8 (mandatory supervised release)
- 720 ILCS 5/2-7 (felony defined)
