Illinois Felony Classes and Penalties: Class X Through Class 4

Illinois felony classes and penalties are organized into five tiers under the state’s Unified Code of Corrections: Class X at the top, then Classes 1, 2, 3, and 4. Prison ranges run from 6 to 30 years at the Class X level down to 1 to 3 years for a Class 4. Every class shares a maximum fine of $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations, and each carries its own rules on probation eligibility and post-release supervision.¹

Class X Felonies

Class X is the most severe felony classification. A conviction carries 6 to 30 years in prison, and the judge has no authority to grant probation or conditional discharge.² Prison is guaranteed. After release, three years of mandatory supervised release follow.

Armed robbery, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and certain large-scale drug offenses sit at this level. Firearm enhancements can stack sharply on top of the base sentence. Using a firearm during an armed robbery adds 15 years; personally discharging one adds 20; causing great bodily harm with a firearm adds 25 years to life.³ Aggravated criminal sexual assault follows a similar pattern, with firearm add-ons ranging from 10 years to a natural life term.⁴

Class 1 Felonies

A Class 1 felony carries 4 to 15 years in prison.⁵ Probation or conditional discharge is available for up to four years, though some Class 1 offenses are non-probationable by statute, and anyone who commits a Class 1 felony while already on probation for a prior felony is automatically ineligible for another probation sentence. Two years of mandatory supervised release follow any prison term.

Residential burglary is a common Class 1 example.⁶ Second-degree murder also sits at this level, but with a wider sentencing window of 4 to 20 years.⁷ Possession of substantial amounts of controlled substances can also land here.

Class 2 Felonies

Class 2 felonies carry 3 to 7 years in prison, with probation or conditional discharge available for up to four years.⁸ Two years of mandatory supervised release follow, matching the Class 1 rule. Robbery and arson are commonly charged at this level.

This is the class where the probation question matters most in practice. For a first-time defendant, Class 2 is often the most realistic opportunity to avoid prison if the court can be shown that community supervision serves the public interest. Judges weigh the nature of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history, and whether incarceration would be counterproductive before deciding.

Class 3 Felonies

A Class 3 felony carries 2 to 5 years in prison, and the maximum probation or conditional discharge period drops to 30 months.⁹ One year of mandatory supervised release follows a prison term.

Theft of property worth more than $500 but not more than $10,000 is a Class 3 felony, and theft of any amount taken directly from another person falls here as well.¹⁰ Aggravated battery charges also frequently land in this class, depending on the specific circumstances.

Class 4 Felonies

Class 4 is the lowest felony classification, carrying 1 to 3 years in prison. Probation or conditional discharge cannot exceed 30 months, and one year of mandatory supervised release follows any prison term.¹¹ Probation is widely granted. Defendants may also be eligible for drug court or impact incarceration programs as alternatives.

Stalking and possession of smaller quantities of controlled substances are typical Class 4 offenses. Despite being the lightest felony class, a conviction still produces a felony record with all of the lasting consequences described below.

Extended Term Sentencing

Every felony class has a separate, higher sentencing range that a judge can impose when aggravating factors are present. The extended ranges roughly double the standard maximum for each class:

Grounds for an extended term include a prior felony conviction, a particularly vulnerable victim, or exceptional brutality. The prosecution must seek the extended term, and the judge must find that statutory grounds justify the higher range.

When Repeat Offenders Get Sentenced as Class X

Illinois forces Class X sentencing on certain repeat violent offenders even when the current charge would ordinarily be a Class 1 or Class 2 felony. A defendant over age 21 who is convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 forcible felony after two prior forcible felony convictions of Class 2 or higher must be sentenced as a Class X offender.¹²

The rule has specific requirements. Each of the three convictions must arise from separate incidents. The second felony must have been committed after conviction on the first, and the third after conviction on the second. The first offense must have been committed after February 1, 1978, and the defendant must have been at least 21 when it occurred. When all those conditions are met, the 6-to-30-year Class X range applies regardless of what the current charge would normally carry.

How Much Time Is Actually Served

The prison sentence a judge announces is not necessarily what someone serves. Illinois awards sentence credit for good behavior, but the amount depends heavily on the offense, with three tiers producing very different outcomes.

First-degree murder convictions receive no sentence credit at all. The person serves 100% of the sentence.¹³

For a list of enumerated violent and sexual offenses, including aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated battery with a firearm, the maximum credit is 4.5 days per month. That works out to roughly 85% of the sentence being served. Home invasion, armed robbery, and aggravated vehicular hijacking fall under the same cap when the offense resulted in great bodily harm. Aggravated discharge of a firearm carries the same restriction whether or not anyone was injured, and certain high-level drug offenses, including Class X delivery or possession with intent to deliver, also fall into this tier.¹³

For offenses not on those lists, the standard credit allows day-for-day reduction, meaning a prisoner can serve roughly 50% of the imposed sentence. This is where the practical impact is largest. Someone sentenced to six years for a non-enumerated Class 2 felony could be released after about three years of good behavior.

Collateral Consequences of a Felony Conviction

Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment from possessing firearms or ammunition.¹⁴ Since every Illinois felony class carries a potential prison term of at least one year, any felony conviction in the state triggers this federal ban. The prohibition is permanent unless the conviction is expunged or the individual receives a gubernatorial pardon that specifically restores firearm rights.

Employment consequences follow. Many professional licenses require a clean felony record, and some federal employers treat a felony conviction as an automatic disqualifier.¹⁵ Private employers in Illinois are restricted in how they can use criminal history during hiring, but the conviction itself still shows up on background checks unless the record is sealed.

Voting rights in Illinois are restored automatically once a person is released from the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Someone on mandatory supervised release, probation, or conditional discharge can register and vote.

Sealing a Felony Record

Illinois allows many felony convictions to be sealed, which blocks public access to the record and lets the individual legally deny its existence to most employers and landlords. The standard waiting period is three years after the last sentence ends, including any probation, prison, or supervised release.¹⁶

There is a shortcut tied to education. Anyone who completes a high school diploma, GED, associate’s degree, vocational certificate, or bachelor’s degree while incarcerated or on supervised release can petition to seal immediately upon completing the sentence, skipping the three-year wait.¹⁶

Not every felony qualifies. Sex offenses, domestic battery, stalking, violations of protection orders, and felony-level animal cruelty are permanently excluded. Offenses that require registration on the sex offender, arsonist, or violent offender registries cannot be sealed until registration is no longer required. If someone has a record sealed and then picks up a new felony, the state can unseal the prior record and the person loses the ability to seal any future felony convictions.¹⁶ Sealing differs from expungement; sealed records still exist and remain accessible to law enforcement, prosecutors, and certain licensing agencies. For most people with felony convictions, sealing is the available remedy.

1
FindLaw. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50 – Sentence Provisions All Felonies
2
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-25 – Class X Felonies Sentence
3
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/18-2 – Armed Robbery
4
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/11-1.30 – Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault
5
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-30 – Class 1 Felonies Sentence
6
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/19-3 – Residential Burglary
7
FindLaw. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/9-2 – Second Degree Murder
8
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-35 – Class 2 Felonies Sentence
9
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-40 – Class 3 Felonies Sentence
10
FindLaw. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/16-1 – Theft
11
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-45 – Class 4 Felonies Sentence
12
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95 – General Recidivism Provisions
13
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3 – Rules and Regulations for Sentence Credit
14
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. United States Code Title 18 Section 922 – Unlawful Acts
15
FBI Jobs. FBI Jobs Eligibility Guide
16
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 – Expungement and Sealing