A felony is punishable by:

• A. Less than a year in jail
• B. Over a year in jail
• C. A fine only
• D. Community service

Answer: (B)

Criminal severity categorized by punishment: a felony is the most serious class of crime and is punishable by imprisonment longer than one year. That’s why the statement “over a year in jail” is the best answer. Less-than-a-year penalties are typical for misdemeanors, while fines or community service alone are noncustodial or lighter sanctions and don’t reflect the longer term of incarceration that defines a felony. (In some cases, felonies can carry even harsher outcomes, but the key point here is the potential for more than one year in a jail or prison setting.)