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HomePenal CodeFelony Sentencing Guidelines§ 18 Felony Sentencing Guidelines

§ 18 Felony Sentencing Guidelines

Penal Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 18 Felony Sentencing Guidelines

This law says that if someone commits a serious crime (called a felony) in California, they can go to state prison for 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years. But if the law doesn’t say how long they should be in prison, they might go to county jail for up to a year or pay a fine instead.

Key Takeaways

  • •Felonies usually mean prison time (16 months, 2 years, or 3 years).
  • •If the law doesn’t say how long, the punishment could be county jail (up to 1 year) or a fine.
  • •This law is a backup rule if other laws don’t specify the punishment.

Example

Someone steals a car.

Stealing a car is a felony, so the person could go to state prison for 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years. But if the law doesn’t say exactly how long, they might go to county jail for up to a year or pay a fine.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18 Felony Sentencing Guidelines

PENAL CODE - PEN PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS ( Preliminary Provisions enacted 1872. ) 18. (a) Except in cases where a different punishment is prescribed by any law of this state, every offense declared to be a felony is punishable by imprisonment for 16 months, or two or three years in the state prison unless the offense is punishable pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. (b) Every offense which is prescribed by any law of the state to be a felony punishable by imprisonment or by a fine, but without an alternate sentence to the county jail for a period not exceeding one year, may be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or by a fine, or by both. (Amended (as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 230) by Stats. 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 12, Sec. 7. (AB 17 1x) Effective September 21, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 46 of Ch. 12.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

felonyimprisonmentstate prisoncounty jailfine

Related Statutes

  • § 17 Felony And Misdemeanor Classification
  • § 261.5 Statutory Rape Age Rules
  • § 290.4 Sex Offender Public Inquiry
  • § 405 Riot Participation Penalties
  • § 264 Rape Penalties And Fines

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Penal Code. Section 18.
View Official Source