South Carolina Code § 16-1-10

Categorization of felonies and misdemeanors; exemptions.
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(A) Felonies are classified, for the purpose of sentencing, into the following six categories:
(1) Class A felonies
(2) Class B felonies
(3) Class C felonies
(4) Class D felonies
(5) Class E felonies
(6) Class F felonies
(B) Misdemeanors are classified, for the purpose of sentencing, into the following three categories:
(1) Class A misdemeanors
(2) Class B misdemeanors
(3) Class C misdemeanors
(C) All offenses with a term of imprisonment of less than one year are misdemeanors and exempt from the classification system.
(D) The following offenses are classified as exempt under subsections (A) and (B):
10-11-325(B)(1)
Detonating an explosive or destructive device or igniting an incendiary device upon the capitol grounds or within the capitol building resulting in death of a person where there was malice aforethought
12-21-6000(B)
Possessing marijuana or controlled substances without appropriate stamps
16-1-40
Accessory before the fact
16-3-10
Murder
16-3-80
Fentanyl-induced homicide
16-3-85(C)(1)
Causing the death of a child by abuse or neglect
16-3-210(B)
Assault and battery by mob in the first degree
16-3-655(C)(1)
Engaging in Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor in the First Degree
16-3-910
Kidnapping (if sentenced for murder)
16-3-1083(A)(2)(a)
Violent crime that carries the death of, or bodily injury to in utero child
16-3-1280
False claim
16-3-2020(B)(3)
Trafficking in persons—3rd or subsequent offense
16-7-10
Acts considered unlawful in area designated by Governor in emergency—looting
16-7-10(A)(2)
Looting during state of emergency
16-7-425
Student communicating physical threats against another person
16-9-290
Accepting bribes for purposes of procuring public office
16-11-311(B)
Burglary—First degree
16-11-370
Robbery of operators of vehicles for hire
16-11-580(C)(1)
Forest products violation (value more than $1,000 but less than $5,000) 1st offense
16-11-580(D)(1)
Forest products violation (value at least $5,000)—1st offense
16-11-740(B)(2)(a)
Wilful and malicious injury to telegraph, telephone, or electric utility system—damage amount less than $10,000
16-11-740(B)(2)(b)
Wilful and malicious injury to telegraph, telephone, or electric utility system—damage amount is at least $10,000 but less than $25,000
16-11-740(B)(2)(c)
Wilful and malicious injury to telegraph, telephone, or electric utility system—damage amount is $25,000 or more
16-13-80
Larceny of a bicycle valued more than $2,000
16-13-165(B)(5)
Persons who unknowingly and unintentionally import, manufactures, sells, offers for sale, installs, leases, trades, or transfers a counterfeit or nonfunctioning airbag
16-15-20
Incest
16-15-110(3)
Prostitution—third or subsequent offense
16-17-425
Student communicating physical threats against another person
16-17-735
False assertion of authority of law, in attempt to intimidate or hinder state or local official in discharge of duties, by threats or use of sham legal process.
16-23-715(1)
Use of weapons of mass destruction resulting in death
16-23-715(2)
Use of weapons of mass destruction not resulting in death
16-23-720(A)(1)
Detonating a destructive device or causing an explosion, or aiding, counseling, or procuring an explosion by means of detonation of a destructive device which results in death of a person where there was malice aforethought
23-3-470(B) (1)
Failure of sex offender to register—First offense
23-3-470(B) (2)
Failure of sex offender to register—Second offense
23-36-170(c), (d)
Penalty (violation of South Carolina Explosives Control Act)
23-3-650(C)
Willful disclosure of certain information contained in State DNA Database to a person not entitled to receive it
23-3-650(D)
Willfully obtaining DNA information contained in State DNA Database without authorization
Third, fourth, or subsequent offenses
24-3-580(C)
Disclosing the identity of an execution team member
24-13-430(A)
Inciting prisoners to riot
25-1-2957
Recklessly endangering the life of another
25-7-30
Giving information respecting national or state defense to foreign contacts during war
38-25-330
Violation of a provision contained in the provisions relating to the unauthorized transaction of insurance business
38-41-20
Multiple employer self-insured health plan transacting business without a license
39-15-1190(C)
Knowing and willfully using an object or tool to produce or reproduce a counterfeit mark or possessing an object with intent to produce or reproduce a counterfeit mark
39-22-90(A)(8)
State warehouse system violation
40-55-170(A)
Practicing psychology without being licensed as required by chapter
44-4-530(C)
Failure of persons subject to quarantine to comply
44-4-530(D)
Entry into isolation or quarantine are by unauthorized person
44-41-630(B)
Performing or inducing an abortion where the unborn has a fetal heartbeat
44-41-640(B)(4)(b)
Performing an abortion that is not necessary to save the mother's life
44-41-650(B)
Performing, inducing, or attempting to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman before a physician determines whether the fetus has a detectable heartbeat
44-41-650(C)
Performing an abortion on a woman who is not the victim of rape or incest
44-41-660(C)
Performing an abortion on a woman where an alleged fetal anomaly does not exist
44-41-680(D)
Performing, inducing, or attempting to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman with the intent of terminating the fetus has a detectable heartbeat
44-53-370(e)(1)(a)3
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in marijuana, 10 pounds or more, but less than 100 pounds)
Third or subsequent offenses
44-53-370(e)(1)(b)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in marijuana, 100 pounds or more of marijuana, but less than 2,000 pounds)
44-53-370(e)(1)(c)
Prohibited Acts A, (trafficking in marijuana, 2000 pounds or more, but less than 10,000 pounds)
44-53-370(e)(1)(d)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in marijuana, 10,000 pounds of marijuana or more)
44-53-370(e)(2)(a)3
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in cocaine, 10 grams or more, but less than 28 grams)
Third or subsequent offense
44-53-370(e)(2)(b)3
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in cocaine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams)
44-53-370(e)(2)(c)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in cocaine, 100 grams or more, but less than 200 grams)
44-53-370(e)(2)(d)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in cocaine, 200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams)
44-53-370(e)(2)(e)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in cocaine, 400 grams or more)
44-53-370(e)(3)(a)2
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in illegal drugs, 4 grams or more, but less than 14 grams)
Second or subsequent offense
44-53-370(e)(3)(b)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in illegal drugs, 14 grams or more, but less than 28 grams)
44-53-370(e)(3)(c)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in illegal drugs, 28 grams or more)
44-53-370(e)(4)(a)2
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in methaqualone, 15 grams or more, but less than 150 grams)
Second or subsequent offense
44-53-370(e)(4)(b)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in methaqualone, 150 grams but less than 1,500 grams)
44-53-370(e)(4)(c)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in methaqualone, possession of 1,500 grams, but less than 15 kilograms of methaqualone)
44-53-370(e)(4)(d)
Prohibited Acts A, penalties (trafficking in methaqualone, 15 kilograms or more)
44-53-370(e)(5)(c)
Prohibited Acts, penalties (trafficking in LSD, 1,000 dosage units or more)
44-53-370(e)(9)(a)1
Trafficking in fentanyl 4 grams or more, but less than 14 grams—first offense
44-53-370(e)(9)(a)2
Trafficking in fentanyl 4 grams or more, but less than 14 grams—second or subsequent offense
44-53-370(e)(9)(b)
Trafficking in fentanyl 14 grams or more, but less than 28 grams
44-53-370(e)(9)(c)
Trafficking in fentanyl 28 grams or more
44-53-375(C)(1)(c)
Trafficking in ice, crank, or crack cocaine 10 grams or more, but less than 28 grams
Third or subsequent offense
44-53-375(C)(2)(c)
Trafficking in ice, crank, or crack cocaine 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
Third or subsequent offense
44-53-375(C)(3)
Trafficking in ice, crank, or crack cocaine 100 grams or more, but less than 200 grams
44-53-375(C)(4)
Trafficking in ice, crank, or crack cocaine 200 grams or more, but less than 400 grams
44-53-375(C)(5)
Trafficking in ice, crank, or crack cocaine 400 grams or more
44-53-420
Attempting or conspiring to commit an offense made unlawful by Title 44, Chapter 53, Article 3
46-9-90
State Pest Commission violation, second offense
46-21-655
Seed certification violations
47-3-950
Wrongfully obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over a guide dog or service animal
47-19-120(a)
Interference with person performing official duties under chapter concerning Poultry Products Inspection Law (Violation of Sections 47-19-70 through 47-19-110)
50-11-105(E)
Violation of statute or regulations regarding wildlife disease control and euthanasia
56-5-2780(B)(1)
Unlawfully passing a stopped school bus where great bodily injury results
56-5-2947
Child endangerment
56-5-5670(H)(1)
Unlawful disposal of a vehicle—2nd or subsequent offense
56-5-5670(H)(2)
Falsifying information on an application, form, or affidavit required for the disposal of a vehicle
56-5-5945(H)(1)
Unlawful disposal of a vehicle—2nd or subsequent offense
56-5-5945(H)(2)
Falsifying information on an application, form, or affidavit required for the disposal of a vehicle
56-15-590
Failure of a motor vehicle auction to keep required records or make them available for inspection
56-15-870
Injuring a railroad or a electric railway
58-17-4090
Death that results from obstructing a railroad
63-11-90
Violations of provisions contained in Title 63, Chapter 11, Article 1
63-13-170
Violation of childcare facilities requirements
63-13-1080
Childcare operator refusing inspection and violating fire and health safety requirements
Code Commissioner's Note
The crime classification tables are added by the Code Commissioner pursuant to Section 2-13-66, and updated annually.
Editor's Note
2010 Act No. 273, SECTION 7.C, provides:
"Wherever in the 1976 Code of Laws reference is made to the common law offense of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, it means assault and battery with intent to kill, as contained in repealed Section 16-3-620, and, except for references in Section 16-1-60 and Section 17-25-45, wherever in the 1976 Code reference is made to assault and battery with intent to kill, it means attempted murder as defined in Section 16-3-29."
2025 Act No. 61, SECTION 3, provides as follows:
"SECTION 3. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws."

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