A Class 4 felony is a lower-tier felony charge used in roughly a dozen states to label offenses that are serious but sit near the bottom of the felony scale. A conviction can mean anywhere from one to ten years in prison, fines reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and lifelong consequences like a federal ban on owning firearms. The exact penalties depend almost entirely on which state is prosecuting the case.
Where Class 4 Sits in the Felony Scale
States that use a numbered class system generally rank felonies from Class 1 (most serious) down. Class 4 lands above misdemeanors and below Class 1, 2, and 3. Common offenses charged at this level include certain thefts, fraud, drug possession, aggravated DUI, and stalking, though the exact list is set by each state’s statutes. A theft that qualifies as a Class 4 felony in one state might be a misdemeanor or a different felony class next door.
One boundary worth clearing up: there is no federal Class 4 felony. The federal system uses letter grades, Class A through Class E. Anyone talking about a Class 4 felony is talking about a state charge.
How Much Prison Time You’re Facing
Prison exposure for a Class 4 felony varies more than most people expect. Nebraska caps Class IV felonies at just two years. Arizona uses a sentencing grid that runs from one year on the mitigated end to nearly four with aggravating factors. Colorado’s presumptive range is two to six years. Virginia allows two to ten.
Those ranges are starting points, not predictions. Judges weigh criminal history, the severity of the offense, whether violence was involved, and whether the defendant cooperated or showed remorse. Prior felony convictions push sentences higher, and some states have extended-term provisions that can double the normal maximum. First-time offenders charged with nonviolent Class 4 felonies are the most likely to receive alternative sentences: house arrest, work release, or a split sentence combining a short jail term with supervised probation.
Probation as an Alternative
Probation is common for Class 4 felony convictions, either in place of prison or paired with a reduced jail term. Terms generally run one to several years with conditions attached: regular check-ins with a probation officer, drug and alcohol testing, maintaining employment, staying away from certain people or places, and sometimes completing substance abuse or mental health treatment. Violating any condition can put you back in front of a judge with the power to impose the original prison sentence in full.
Courts tend to favor probation for first-time offenders and cases involving addiction rather than calculated criminality. Probation is not a free pass, though. Travel may require advance approval, job changes often need to be reported, and a single failed drug test can trigger revocation proceedings.
Fines, Restitution, and Court Costs
Statutory fine caps swing hard between states. Nebraska limits Class IV felony fines to $10,000. Virginia allows up to $100,000. Colorado permits up to $500,000 for the same classification. What a court actually imposes depends on the offense, your financial situation, and whether restitution is also part of the sentence.
Restitution is separate from fines. Where a victim suffered a financial loss, injury, or property damage, courts frequently order the defendant to pay the actual cost of that harm: medical bills, stolen property value, lost wages, and related expenses. Under federal law, restitution is mandatory for crimes of violence and property offenses with identifiable victims, and most states apply similar requirements to their own felony cases.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 3663A – Mandatory Restitution to Victims of Certain Crimes Fines go to the government. Restitution goes to the victim.
Expect court costs and administrative surcharges on top of all that: filing fees, prosecution surcharges, crime lab fees, probation supervision fees, and mandatory contributions to victim compensation funds. Courts can allow payment plans for defendants who demonstrate hardship, but the total owed does not shrink.
The Federal Firearms Ban
This is the consequence that catches people most off guard. Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment from possessing any firearm or ammunition.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts Since virtually every Class 4 felony carries a potential sentence over one year, a conviction triggers the ban whether or not you actually serve time. It is permanent unless you obtain a pardon or your conviction is expunged.
Violating the prohibition is a separate federal crime carrying up to 15 years in prison.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 924 – Penalties The federal government prosecutes these cases aggressively, and the sentence runs on top of any state penalty. Even people who legally owned firearms before their conviction have to surrender or transfer them.
Employment, Housing, and Professional Licenses
The practical fallout from a Class 4 felony conviction often outlasts the sentence itself. Most employers run background checks, and a felony record creates real barriers, especially in fields that require professional licenses. Nursing boards, teaching credential agencies, and similar bodies review applicants with felony convictions case by case, weighing the severity of the offense, how long ago it happened, evidence of rehabilitation, and whether the crime relates to the profession. Violent offenses, crimes against vulnerable people, and repeat convictions are the hardest to overcome.
Housing is another persistent challenge. Landlords commonly screen criminal records, and a felony conviction can result in automatic denials, particularly from larger property management companies with blanket policies. Financial institutions also factor criminal history into lending decisions, making it harder to qualify for mortgages, business loans, or car financing. Federal student aid remains available after a felony conviction, and drug convictions no longer affect eligibility for federal aid, though private lenders and individual colleges may apply their own restrictions.4Federal Student Aid. Eligibility for Students With Criminal Convictions
Voting, Jury Service, and Other Civil Rights
A felony conviction affects your civil rights, but the specifics depend heavily on where you live. Roughly 23 states restore voting rights automatically when you leave prison. Another 15 states suspend voting through the end of parole or probation, then restore rights automatically. In the remaining states, some felony convictions mean an indefinite loss of voting rights that requires a governor’s pardon or an additional application to reverse. Checking your state’s rules after completing your sentence is worth the effort; many people assume they cannot vote when they actually can.
Jury service is more uniformly restricted. Federal law disqualifies anyone with a pending felony charge or an unexpunged felony conviction from serving on a federal jury, and most states apply the same rule to state courts. Holding public office and obtaining certain government security clearances can also be affected, as can international travel, since a number of countries either deny entry outright to people with felony convictions or reserve the right to do so.
If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen
For non-citizens, a Class 4 felony conviction can carry worse consequences than the criminal sentence itself. If the conviction qualifies as an “aggravated felony” under federal immigration law, the person is conclusively presumed deportable.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1228 – Expedited Removal of Aliens Convicted of Committing Aggravated Felonies Several common Class 4 offenses can meet that definition: theft offenses and crimes of violence qualify as aggravated felonies when the court imposes a sentence of one year or more, even if the sentence is entirely suspended.
Beyond deportation, a conviction classified as an aggravated felony permanently bars the person from establishing the good moral character required for naturalization if the conviction occurred on or after November 29, 1990.6USCIS. Chapter 4 – Permanent Bars to Good Moral Character This is a lifetime bar with no waiver. Non-citizens facing any felony charge should talk to an immigration attorney before accepting a plea, because the immigration consequences of the specific sentence imposed often matter more than the conviction itself.
Expungement and Record Sealing
Expungement erases a criminal record as though the conviction never happened. Record sealing is slightly different: the record still exists but is hidden from most public searches while remaining accessible to law enforcement and courts. Not every state offers both options, and eligibility rules vary widely. Nonviolent offenses and first-time convictions are the most likely to qualify. Violent crimes, sexual offenses, and offenses involving children are typically excluded.
Most states that allow expungement impose a waiting period after you complete your entire sentence, including probation or parole. These periods commonly run from two to ten years, and during that time you generally need a clean record with no new criminal activity and all court-ordered obligations fulfilled. Filing usually involves submitting a petition to the court, paying an administrative fee, and sometimes appearing at a hearing. Judges weigh your rehabilitation, the nature of the original offense, and public safety before granting a request. Nothing is guaranteed.
A growing number of states have passed “Clean Slate” laws that automatically seal certain records once the waiting period expires, removing the need for a petition. As of early 2026, thirteen states and Washington, D.C. have enacted some form of automatic record-clearing legislation. Eligibility commonly includes misdemeanors and a limited set of nonviolent felonies, with waiting periods of seven to ten years after sentencing or release. Even after expungement or sealing, the record may still surface in immigration proceedings and federal security clearance applications, so the relief has limits.