Is a third degree worse then a first degree? Someone I know has a third-degree distribution of heroin and third-degree distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Just wondering how long they might be looking at in jail and how serious is the third degree rather then a first degree in this situation.

It goes like this -
First degree - the highest penalty imposed
Second degree - the second highest penalty imposed
Third degree - the third highest penalty imposed
Fourth degree - the fourth highest penalty imposed
Fifth degree - the lowest felony penalty imposed

First degree felony would be in the murder category
Fifth degree felony would be in the grand theft or DUI felony category

Don't know what the penalty would be for your friend's heroin charges would be as you didn't say what state this is in.

The third degree felony would be much less jail time than a first degree felony would be.

New Jersey

First degree is the worst, and it will depend normally on amounts