Maximum punishment for 1st degree CSC?

• A. 30 years
• B. 25 years
• C. 15 years
• D. Life

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the sentence for Criminal Sexual Conduct depends on the degree defined by statute—the higher the degree, the harsher the ceiling set by law. For first-degree CSC in this context, the statutory maximum is 30 years. That makes 30 years the best answer because it represents the longest fixed term the law assigns for CSC-1 in this material. Keep in mind that in other jurisdictions or under different aggravating factors, first-degree CSC can carry life imprisonment, but within this scenario the ceiling is 30 years. This helps you see how degree and the stated maximum work together: the most serious category in this set has a long, finite maximum rather than an indefinite term.