In Wisconsin there are basically two levels of crimes: felony and misdemeanor. Wis. Stat. Section 939.50 classifies certain offenses as misdemeanors and some as felonies. There are three types of misdemeanors: Class A, Class B, or Class C. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 9 months. That includes most misdemeanor offenses like battery, theft, OWI’s (second to fourth offenses), obstructing justice, resisting arrest, domestic battery, and many others. The most common Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, is disorderly conduct and domestic disorderly conduct. “Imprisonment” for misdemeanors almost always means jail time, not actual prison time.
The difference between a misdemeanor and felony in Wisconsin is that for a felony offense you can be imprisoned for more than a year. For felony offenses that means you can actually be put in prison, not just jail. And the sentences range from a year and a day to life imprisonment for homicide. Typical felony charges include fraud, drug distribution, drug possession, substantial battery, theft (like retail theft of $500 or more), and sexual assault.