When we hear the phrase “criminal offense” we think of crimes like murder or sexual assault, etc. However, there are several other offenses that are considered criminal acts.
Criminal offenses are classified into 4 categories, depending on the nature of the crime, as under:
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Personal Crimes:
Personal crimes are those acts that cause physical or mental harm to an individual. A personal crime maybe a form of homicide that causes death. A severe form of personal crime such as assault and battery, arson, domestic abuse, etc. is known as a violent crime.
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Property Crimes:
These are crimes in which the property belonging to an individual is attacked such that he is deprived of the use and enjoyment of the property.
- Burglary
- Larceny
- Theft of a vehicle
- Shoplifting
- Robbery, etc.
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Inchoate Crimes:
These are crimes that were initiated but not completed. However, to be charged for such a crime the individual needs to take a substantial step for completing the crime.
An individual can be charged with inchoate crime if he assists another in committing a crime. Acts of abetting a crime of, participating in a conspiracy, etc. qualify as inchoate crimes.
The punishment for an inchoate crime depends on the specific case and its severity.
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Statutory Crimes:
These are crimes proscribed by the statute to deter others from performing such acts. Crimes such as traffic offenses, financial crimes, alcohol and drug related crimes are some examples of statutory crimes.
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White collar Crimes:
White-collar crimes are crimes like fraud, embezzlement, etc. The name “whit-collar” crime came into being because of corporate officers perpetrating them. However, now any crime of this nature is classified as a white collar crime.
Other examples of white collar crimes are tax evasion, cybercrimes, blackmail, money laundering, etc.
When an individual is suspected to be responsible for any criminal activity, he is charged with the crime and taken into custody. The next step is a court trial where the defendant’s attorney tries to prove him not-guilty while the prosecution tries to prove otherwise.
The hearing is held in a courtroom in front of a Judge and jury(The jury comprises members of the society.. The prosecution prepares a case accusing the defendant and trying to prove him guilty. The public prosecutor will offer evidence and ask witnesses to testify.
Some common types of property crimes are:
The criminal lawyer who is defending the client also provides evidence, etc. to prove that his client is not-guilty. However, the criminal defense attorney is required to prove that the defendant is not guilty beyond all reasonable doubt.
Both lawyers can cross examine each other’s witnesses to support their case. The jury makes a decision based on how the lawyers have fought the case.
A criminal case can make or break an individual. Especially if the individual is not-guilty he loses his reputation and name in the society. This can damage his personal and professional lives.
Having an experienced criminal lawyer on your side, helps you fight back against the plaintiff and get a fair representation in the court.
Autrey Law Firms the has the best criminal lawyers to help you in any kind of criminal case you may face!
