Criminal charges result from actions that are prohibited by the law. This includes any behavior that is deemed to be against societal moral norms. These actions are broken down into a number of categories, including:
Personal Offenses
These actions can range from any type of homicide to kidnapping, domestic violence, sexual abuse, rape, or assault and battery, among others, and they include those that harm another person physically or mentally.
Theft of Property
These involve taking someone else’s property, and examples include shoplifting, burglary, larceny, and robbery.
Statutory Crimes
They consist of, but are not restricted to:
Crimes Connected to Alcohol
These offences include drunk driving, minors in possession of alcohol, being intoxicated in public, and others.
Crimes Linked to Drugs
These include producing, selling, or distributing illegal substances as well as using and possessing them.
Traffic Infractions
These result from people using public roads, and they can be linked to other crimes like drunk driving, reckless driving, or other traffic infractions that result in fatalities. Charges like homicide or manslaughter are more severe in these circumstances.
Financial Crimes
In these crimes, one person deceives another with the goal of making money. Money laundering, tax evasion, theft, cybercrimes, and other offences fall under the category of financial or white-collar crimes.
Classifications of Crimes
There are three different categories of criminal offences, based on their seriousness:
Infractions
These crimes typically don’t result in jail time. when individuals break local laws and ordinances, such as when they improperly dispose of trash, go over the posted speed limit, run a business without a license, and other examples. Fines are typically used to punish them.
Misdemeanors
The typical sentence for these crimes is one year or less in prison. In addition, they are less serious than felonies.
Felonies
These offences are the most serious and carry a sentence of more than a year in jail. They could also result in the death penalty or life in prison. For each category of felony crimes, the law has established minimum and maximum sentencing guidelines.
What Steps are Involved in a Felony?
When a warrant is issued or an arrest is made, it begins. You will have a hearing before a judge within 48 hours of that, during which bail will be decided.
After that, you will either surrender the Grand Jury case or have a preliminary hearing in a District Court. If the Grand Jury recommends an indictment against you, you will be arraigned. You will then have the option of entering a guilty or not guilty plea. The state and your solicitor exchange copies of any evidence they may have, and a trial date is set.
Get the Services of a Criminal Defense Lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer will outline your legal rights and guide you through the criminal justice system if you are facing criminal charges. Criminal Defense Attorneys in San Luis Obispo advise that you hire attorney as soon as you can. If not, you might be in for terrible repercussions.
