Sex offenses in Minnesota are sentenced on their own grid - the Sex Offender Grid - with severity levels running from A (most serious) down to I. The presumptive sentence is found where the severity level meets the criminal history score, the same way the other grids work. Below is the current Sex Offender Grid effective August 1, 2025. Note that some sex offenses carry mandatory life sentences and sit outside the grid entirely.
| Severity level example offense | criminal history score → | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Criminal Sexual Conduct, 1st Degree | 144144-172 | 156144-187 | 168144-201 | 180153-216 | 234199-280 | 306261-360 | 360306-360 |
| B CSC 2nd Degree (contact & force w/ bodily harm) | 9090-108 | 11094-132 | 130111-156 | 150128-180 | 195166-234 | 255217-306 | 300255-360 |
| C CSC 3rd Degree (penetration & coercion) | 4841-57 | 6253-74 | 7665-91 | 9077-108 | 117100-140 | 153131-183 | 180153-216 |
| D CSC 2nd/3rd Degree (age-based) | 36 | 48 | 6051-72 | 7060-84 | 9178-109 | 119102-142 | 140119-168 |
| E CSC 4th Degree (contact & coercion) | 24 | 36 | 48 | 6051-72 | 7867-93 | 10287-120 | 120102-120 |
| F CSC 4th Degree (age); CSC 5th (subsequent) | 18 | 27 | 36 | 4539-54 | 5951-70 | 7766-92 | 8472-100 |
| G Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 3934-46 | 5144-60 | 6051-60 |
| H CSC 5th Degree (nonconsensual penetration) | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 2424-24 | 2424-24 |
| I Failure to Register as Predatory Offender | 12*12-14 | 1412-16 | 1614-19 | 1816-21 | 2421-28 | 3026-36 | 3631-43 |
* One year and one day mandatory minimum (Minn. Stat. § 243.166, subd. 5(b)).
Source: Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, § 4.B.
For the combined overview, see how the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines work.
Why sex offenses use a separate grid
Minnesota ranks sex offenses on a dedicated grid with severity levels A through I. As on the other grids, the presumptive sentence sits where the severity level meets the criminal history score, but the durations are specific to these offenses and tend to be substantially longer.
Criminal-sexual-conduct degrees, the age-based provisions, and certain registration offenses each map to a specific level on this grid.
Offenses outside the grid
Some of the most serious sex offenses are not sentenced from the grid at all. Under Minn. Stat. § 609.3455, certain offenses carry mandatory life sentences, and certain repeat offenses carry mandatory minimum prison terms. Those are controlled by statute, not the grid.
Sex offenses also carry mandatory conditional-release terms served after prison, which the grid does not display.
Conditional release and departures
Like the other grids, the Sex Offender Grid is presumptive, and departures are possible with substantial and compelling reasons. But the stakes are higher: long presumptive durations, mandatory conditional release, predatory-offender registration, and possible civil commitment all interact with the sentence.
This page is general information, not legal advice; sex-offense sentencing is among the most complex in Minnesota law. For non-sex felonies see the Standard Grid; for which offense sits at which level, see our Minnesota felony severity levels reference.
Updated May 18, 2026 · Law verified as of June 27, 2026. This article is general information about Minnesota law, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Minnesota use a separate grid for sex offenses?
Yes. Sex offenses are sentenced on the Sex Offender Grid, with severity levels A (most serious) through I, rather than the Standard Grid.
Are all sex offenses on the grid?
No. Under Minn. Stat. § 609.3455, certain sex offenses carry mandatory life sentences and some repeat offenses carry mandatory minimums; those are controlled by statute and sit outside the grid.
What is conditional release in a sex case?
It is a mandatory period of community supervision served after the prison term, required by statute for many sex offenses. It is in addition to the grid duration and is not shown on the grid.
Can a sex-offense grid sentence be departed from?
Yes, with substantial and compelling reasons, the same as other grids - but registration, conditional release, and possible civil commitment make these cases especially complex.
Related guides
Criminal Sexual Conduct Charges in Minnesota: An Overview
Minnesota criminal sexual conduct law has five degrees and was overhauled in 2021. Learn how consent, force, and the charges are defined now....
Read the guideThe Five Degrees of Criminal Sexual Conduct in Minnesota
First through fifth degree criminal sexual conduct in Minnesota, explained: the exact circumstances that define each degree and the penalties....
Read the guideThe Minnesota Drug Offender Sentencing Grid
Minnesota uses a separate Drug Offender Grid for controlled-substance felonies, with severity levels D9 down to D1. See the current 2025 drug sentenci...
Read the guideThe information on this article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.