Common Types of Criminal Law

When a person commits a criminal act, that person can be prosecuted by the criminal justice system. It is the job of a court-appointed public defender or a qualified criminal defense attorney to research the situation, sift through the evidence and devise a case that places reasonable doubt in the minds of the judge and/or jury regarding the innocence of the accused. In the United States criminal justice system, all accused parties are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Criminal Law Infractions

The term “criminal law” encompasses a broad range of infractions, so criminal defense attorneys must be prepared to tackle a variety of challenging and complicated cases. Crimes tend to fall into several categories:

• Sexual

• Violent

• Drug and alcohol

• White Collar

• General

Criminal defense attorneys handle cases involving:

• Murder or manslaughter

• Kidnapping

• Hate crimes

• Robbery

• Child abuse, molestation or pornography

• Arson

• Theft

• Rape or sexual assault

• Domestic violence

• Prostitution or exploitation

• Lewd conduct

• Car jacking

• Driving under the influence or while intoxicated

• Drug related crimes, including possession, sale, growth, etc.

• Terrorist threats or acts

• Hit and run

• Arms trafficking

• Aiding or abetting in a crime

• Stalking

• Extortion

• Fraud

• Bribery

• Larceny

• Embezzlement

• Racketeering

• Price fixing

• Violations of securities and commodities law

• Obstruction of justice

• Environmental crimes

• Money laundering

Misdemeanors vs. Felonies

Some criminal cases are minor and can be classified as misdemeanors while those of a more serious nature are classified as felonies. The difference between these two distinctions is typically the type of punishment that is assigned. Felonies typically carry a stern punishment, such as:

• 10-20 years of imprisonment

• Life imprisonment

• Death sentence

Criminals charged with misdemeanors usually receive a lighter sentence, such as:

• One year or less of jail time

• Community service

• House arrest

• Probation

• Fines

Within the classifications of felonies and misdemeanors, a crime can also be categorized by severity: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D or Class E. A Class A crime is the most severe and carries the harshest punishment while a Class E crime is the least serious.

Importance of Criminal Attorneys

Individuals who have been accused of a criminal act need the support of an experienced criminal defense attorney to get them the best possible outcome in a criminal case. A criminal attorney can:

• Protect your rights during law enforcement questioning

• Involve expert witnesses to strengthen your case

• Examine physical evidence

• Identify legal loopholes

• Negotiate plea bargains

• File the appropriate paperwork

• Handle appeals

If you or a loved one has been accused of a serious or minor crime in the Nashville, Tennessee area, please visit the website of criminal defense attorneys James R. Omer & Associates, PLLC to request an initial meeting and see if their highly experienced legal representation is right for you.

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