How to Understand Criminal Charges: A Full Guide
There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle, there is not a vice which does not live by secrecy.
–Joseph Pulitzer (Publisher and former United States Representative)
In the present time, crime is glorified through various mediums be it songs, movies, or role models promoting violence. People are getting influenced easily and taking steps that are not only ruining their whole lives but also increasing the global crime rate.
You will be overwhelmed to know that there are countries like Venezuela with a crime rate of 81.2% and a safety index of only 18.8%. Shocking, isn’t it?
People here are fighting for their lives every single day. On the flip side, countless individuals are falsely accused and are further treated as criminals. It’s unfair, but without proper proof and help, it’s like barking up the wrong tree.
Considering the gravity of the situation, after meticulous research, I have come up with an extensive write-up mentioning everything that you need to know about different criminal changes and how to navigate them.
What Can Be Said About Financial Crimes?
Financial crimes are quite common these days and can be executed either by an organization or individuals. Usually, they take advantage of loopholes mixed with illegal action to acquire money. This has been causing major damage to society and the global economy.
That’s precisely why compliance bodies are actively thinking of effective strategies to fight against these crimes. Some of the most common activities include blackmailing, cybercrime, tax evasion and money laundering. There are many more, and there is no exact number for how many financial crimes there are.
Such crimes are committed by both small and large organizations that are greedy for profit and will do anything to achieve what they want. What can be done if you are currently dealing with commercial misconduct charges when you aren’t the alleged perpetrator?
For instance, those who are prosecuted with cybercrime charges usually turn to Dallas Computer Crime Defense Lawyer, they are professionals when it comes to this and are well-known defense attorneys. They can help you understand the whole procedure and how you can put up a strong fight and come out victorious.
These legal experts have years of experience and have handled numerous cases, so they can navigate any situation or legal system and tackle any intricacy that’s related to it. Apart from online misconduct, money laundering is also one of the most popular types of financial offenses and is consistently executed by organized crime groups and cartels.
Furthermore, money fraud is very well known because, through it, people can earn staggering amounts of cash, and the major funding is generated through terrorist activities and drug trafficking.
Crimes Against An Individual
Crimes against individuals mean mental or physical harm done by one person to another. This is further split into two major categories that include different kinds of homicide and other violent crimes.
If the damage caused by the person results in the death of an individual, they are most likely to be charged with several felonies like various types of homicide, like first-degree murder, vehicular homicide, and voluntary manslaughter.
Additionally, violent crimes, which can typically be highly serious and severe, include the following:
- Arson
- Assault and battery
- Rape and statutory rape
- Kidnapping
- Child abuse
- Domestic abuse
Take a look at the infographic below. If you are from Asia, then it’s important for you to know about the most dangerous cities with high crime rates and take proper precautions if you are going there.
Moving On To Property Crime
Property crimes have ended up becoming widespread as well, and they usually occur unexpectedly, threatening your belongings and personal items, which makes you feel very unsafe.
Such crimes can’t be taken lightly because they cause financial damage along with potential physical and emotional harm. Property offenses can deeply affect the security of every valuable item that you might possess.
Commonly, theft is done by people who ‘ll take another person’s property without their consent and won’t let go of it. Below, the most common types of property convictions will be enumerated:
- Robbery
- Theft and larceny
- Burglary (referring to both entering and breaking)
- Vandalism
- Motor vehicle theft
- Arson
Further, if a complaint is filed or someone tries to protest against it, they can be beaten or even murdered. It’s important to be familiar with such property discourses because only then can anyone take the right steps and navigate the justice system properly.
DID YOU KNOW?52 people are murdered every hour around the world, and every day, over 1250 people lose their lives!
Learning More About Statutory Crimes
Statutory crimes refer to crimes that are classified by constitutional law. Some of these crimes include traffic offenses, crimes that are related to alcohol, drug abuse, and white-collar crimes. These crimes are strictly forbidden by the government because society is hopeful that if these are taken seriously, people are more likely to not go this route.
Moreover, crimes that are correlated with alcohol commonly entail various offenses concerning how and where alcohol can be used, like:
- Open Container Violations
- Driving Under the Influence
- Public Intoxication
- Minor in Possession of Alcohol
- Boating DUI
- Underage DUI
- Refusing to take a breathalyzer or give a blood sample
- Refusing to take a field sobriety test
- Selling alcohol to underage kids
As for drugs, it’s quite straightforward: anything that includes making or selling drugs without the government’s knowledge resulting in people getting their hands on hardcore drugs, trafficking it, etc., is considered a serious crime.
Speaking of this, one of the categories of penal law that has been causing a huge mess lately is the one that involves medical cannabis. Countries are still conflicted about whether to legalize it or not, but it’s safe to say that laws are constantly coming up with new changes to ensure that it isn’t being misused.
Lastly, traffic penalties are extremely common too, and they can occur for various reasons like breaking traffic rules, running someone with the car under the influence, driving on a revoked license, etc. Since DWI, DUI, and OWI imply both the use of a particular vehicle and alcohol, it is categorized as violations that are related to both traffic offenses and illicit substance crimes.
If someone lost their lives because of the recklessness of another, then the other person would be treated as a criminal and would face serious penalties, the same as homicide charges. It can go from life in prison to 10–15 years in jail and compensation to the victim’s family.
As you can see, criminal law is very broad and splits into different fundamental categories that must be accurately comprehended and analyzed if you want to prepare yourself for approaching legal charges properly.
Aside from being well-versed, it also wouldn’t hurt to hire a professional lawyer; they will prepare for everything and will be by your side until everything is settled.
