Explaining Violent Crimes
%3Cdiv+style%3D%22text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AViolent+crimes+refer+to+any+criminal+offense+which+involves+the+use+of+or+threat+of+force+towards+another+person.+Violent+crime+covers+a+broad+spectrum+of+violent+crimes+which+are+divided+into+five+categories+by+the+United+States+Department+of+Justice.+These+include+murder%2C+rape+or+sexual+assault%2C+robbery%2C+aggravated+assault+and+simple+assault.%0D%0A%0D%0AWith+violent+crimes%2C+violence+can+either+be+the+objective+or+they+can+be+a+means+to+an+end+%28as+in+robbery%29.+Additionally%2C+a+violent+crime+may+or+may+not+involve+the+use+of+a+weapon.+A+person+can+murder+another+human+being+with+their+bare+hands+or+in+a+more+insidious+way%2C+such+as+poison.+They+do+not+have+to+use+a+firearm+or+knife+to+commit+such+a+heinous+crime.%0D%0A%0D%0AViolent+crimes+are+prosecuted+as+felonies%2C+which+means+that+a+conviction+can+involve+years+in+a+state+prison.+Not+only+can+they+involve+a+lengthy+prison+sentence%2C+the+state+of+Florida+enacted+the+%22three+strikes+law%22+in+1996.+That+means+that+a+violent+felony+conviction+would+count+as+a+%22strike%22+on+your+criminal+record.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat+is+the+three+strikes+law%3F+The+three+strikes+laws+were+enacted+by+state+governments+of+the+United+States.+These+laws+require+the+state+courts+to+hand+down+mandatory+sentences+to+criminals+who+have+been+convicted+of+a+violent+felony+on+three+or+more+separate+occasions.+Florida+is+one+of+the+states+that+have+adopted+their+own+form+of+habitual+offender+laws.%0D%0A%0D%0AUnder+the+three+strikes+law%2C+repeat+offenders+are+subjected+to+increased+and+extended+prison+sentences.+They+are+also+limited+or%2C+in+some+cases%2C+prohibited+from+receiving+an+alternative+form+of+punishment+other+than+a+prison+sentence.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+addition+to+the+%22three+strikes+law%2C%22+the+state+of+Florida+is+one+of+the+states+that+carry+the+death+penalty.+This+means+that+individuals+who+are+facing+serious+violent+crime+charges+such+as+murder%2C+could+be+sentenced+to+death+in+a+court+of+law.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlthough+most+violent+crimes+involve+the+use+of+force+or+violence%2C+a+crime+can+still+be+categorized+as+a+violent+crime+even+if+it+only+involved+the+%22threat%22+of+violence.+For+example%2C+the+crime+of+assault+falls+under+this+category.+Assault+can+vary+depending+on+the+facts+surrounding+the+case%2C+however%2C+assault+by+definition+involves+the+threat+or+use+of+force.+Physical+contact+does+not+need+to+take+place+in+order+to+be+convicted+of+assault%3B+simply+the+threat+of+violence+is+sufficient.%0D%0A%0D%0AAssault+charges+can+range+from+simple+assault+to+aggravated+assault.+Simple+assault+can+be+charged+as+a+misdemeanor%2C+however%2C+it+is+often+prosecuted+as+a+felonious+crime.+Battery%2C+on+the+other+hand%2C+involves+actual+physical+contact+with+the+victim.%0D%0A%0D%0ASexual+assault+and+rape+are+categorized+as+violent+sex+crimes.+Sexual+assault+refers+to+non-consensual+sexual+contact%2C+whereas+rape+is+associated+with+non-consensual+sexual+intercourse.+Furthermore%2C+sexual+crimes+committed+against+children+are+felonies.%0D%0A%0D%0ARobbery+is+a+violent+crime+where+the+victim+is+typically+confronted+by+a+weapon.+Robbers+commonly+use+a+firearm+or+knife+to+instill+fear+in+their+victim%2C+in+order+to+get+them+to+hand+over+their+purse+or+wallet.+Carjacking+is+a+similar+type+offense+where+the+carjacker+will+threaten+to+use+a+weapon+against+the+victim+unless+they+turn+over+their+vehicle.%0D%0@%0D%0AHomicide+charges+are+by+far+the+most+serious+types+of+violent+crimes+as+they+involve+the+death+of+another+human+being.+Murder+and+manslaughter+charges+are+divided+into+degrees.+For+example%2C+a+person+who+meticulously+plans+to+murder+their+victim+and+lies+in+wait+for+them+can+be+guilty+of+a+capital+offense+and+sentenced+to+death%2C+whereas+a+person+who+accidentally+strikes+and+kills+a+pedestrian+with+their+car+will+face+lighter+sanctions.%0D%0A%0D%0AViolent+crimes+are+inherently+serious+in+nature%2C+thus+a+conviction+can+ruin+your+life.+Those+convicted+of+violent+crimes+face+lengthy+prison+sentences%3B+therefore+defending+them+requires+the+help+of+an+experienced+criminal+defense+attorney.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt+is+not+entirely+uncommon+for+extenuating+circumstances+to+lead+to+%22criminal+acts%2C%22+therefore+a+strong+defense+is+your+only+option.+A+criminal+defense+attorney+will+know+how+to+cross-examine+evidence+and+witness+testimony.+They+will+also+have+the+tools+to+unearth+any+mitigating+evidence+that+could+help+you+achieve+a+more+favorable+outcome+in+the+charges+against+you.%0D%0AAbout+this+Author%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+Law+Offices+of+DiRenzo+%26amp%3B+Weick+is+a+criminal+defense+firm+serving+the+residents+of+Fort+Lauderdale+and+the+surrounding+areas.+Their+firm+has+been+successfully+defending+clients+for+more+than+seventeen+years.+At+DiRenzo+%26amp%3B+Weick%2C+you+can+feel+confident+knowing+that+your+case+will+be+handled+by+an+experienced+Fort+Lauderdale+criminal+defense+lawyer+who+you+can+trust.+No+matter+what+brought+you+to+the+charges%2C+they+believe+their+clients+are+innocent+until+proven+guilty+beyond+a+reasonable+doubt.+Therefore%2C+they+will+place+the+burden+of+proof+upon+the+prosecution+to+prove+otherwise.+You+are+urged+to+take+action+immediately+by+contacting+their+firm+at+%28866%29+622-0636+for+a+free+case+evaluation%21%0D%0A%0D%0AFor+additional+information+visit+the+firm%27s+website+at+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.FortLauderdaleDefenseLawFirm.com.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A