Violent crime charges can turn a person’s life upside down. If you currently have allegations against you, you may not know what to do next.
When you face violent crime charges, you may require a solid defense in order to prevent overly harsh sentences.
What are violent crimes?
If you face violent crime charges, a conviction may result in mandatory jail time. You should not waste time in your defense against violent crimes because the resulting convictions can alter the course of your life in a serious way. Some examples of violent crimes include:
- Aggravated battery
- Robbery
- Aiding and abetting
- Vehicular manslaughter
- Domestic assault
- Assault
Some of these crimes may result in federal charges.
What are the penalties for violent crime?
The penalties for violent crimes may vary depending on the severity of the crime. If the court determines the defendant intended to kill the victim, a capital felony can result in life in prison. A second-degree felony, on the other hand, results in imprisonment for no longer than 15 years. Third-degree felonies have prison terms that do not last more than five years.
For crimes including aggravated battery, arson, robbery, manslaughter, aggravated stalking, armed burglary or other violent crimes, if you re-offend less than three years after a prison release, prosecutors may charge you as a prison releasee re-offender. For prison releasee re-offenders, a first-degree felony may have a 30-year imprisonment and a second-degree felony may have a term of 15 years. The prosecution does not have a cap on the years it can sentence you to.
Fighting a criminal charge may result in reduced or dismissed charges.