Legal Representation for Violent Crimes
California has taken a very harsh stance against violent crime and leads the nation in imposing harsh sentences for individuals convicted of violent crimes. We all agree that a society with less violent crime is a better one, but the aggressive action taken by prosecutors across the state leads to countless innocent people being convicted every year. The reasons for false convictions vary widely and can include mistakes by police or witnesses, such as mistaken identification or an error at the crime lab, but can also include more dubious circumstances such as untruthful witnesses, racism, fabricated evidence, and most importantly, prosecutors who are more concerned with garnering a conviction than exposing the truth.
Common Violent Crimes
- Arson
- Assault / Battery
- Carjacking
- Domestic Abuse / Battery (Domestic Violence)
- False Imprisonment
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter (Voluntary and Involuntary)
- Murder (First-degree and Second-degree)
- Robbery
- Stalking
- Weapons Charges
Violent crimes such as Assault and Murder require additional classification levels to accurately punish a convict and have multiple penal codes associated with them. In California, these are known as degrees. The difference between a first degree, second degree and third degree conviction can be staggering, and in the case of murder, the difference is life or death.
Many violent crimes in CA are considered “wobbler” crimes, meaning that you can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on your criminal history and the unique attributes of the incident. Domestic Abuse is one of these crimes, and if you are charged and convicted of felony domestic abuse, the consequences can include state prison for up to 5 years.
What should you do if charged with a violent crime?
Violent crimes are the most serious crimes one can be charged with, and they carry penalties that can and will change your life forever. Federal law ensures that all defendants are given the opportunity to secure legal representation, and if they cannot afford representation, the court must provide it for them. These court-appointed lawyers are called public defenders and they do remarkable work considering their circumstances. However, these attorneys are frequently over-worked and understaffed and if you have been charged with a violent crime, you should retain private counsel whenever possible. The Sacramento criminal defense attorney at this law firm are experienced defending individuals accused of violent crimes, please give us a call today.