Missouri Drug Penalty Structure

Brengle Law Firm

Missouri drug crimes begin at the Misdemeanor level. In Missouri, there are three classes of Misdemeanors. The least serious Misdemeanor is a C Misdemeanor and the maximum penalty for a C Misdemeanor is 15 days in jail. For a B Misdemeanor, the maximum penalty is 6 months in jail, and the maximum penalty for an A Misdemeanor is 1 year in jail.

Many drug crimes in Missouri are Felony crimes, and Missouri Felonies start at a D classification and ascend to an A classification. For a D Felony, a person can be incarcerated for 1 day to 365 days in the county jail or 2 years to 4 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The C Felony in Missouri allows for the incarceration of people for up to 1 year in the county jail or 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The range of punishment on B Felony charges goes from 5 years to 15 years, and the range of punishment on A Felony charges extends from 10 years to 30 years, or life imprisonment.

However, with Missouri drug crimes, each Felony charge can have an enhanced penalty range if a person is accused of a drug crime for a second or third time. In Missouri, repeat offenders are referred to in the law as “Prior Drug Offenders” or “Prior and Persistent Drug Offenders”.