The 12 Most Common Types of Criminal Charges
When you hear the phrase “criminal charges”, what are the first things that come to mind? Some of the most common ones are domestic violence, theft or DUI. Here’s a compilation of the 12 most common types of criminal charges and several examples of what type of behaviors would be classified as such. Alcohol-Related Crimes These crimes are your DUI’s (regular and felony), public intoxication and selling alcohol to minors. Did you know that refusing to take a breathalyzer or perform a field sobriety test is also a crime? Assault & Battery Crimes You’ll find threats of violence, aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon under this category. You’ll also want to make sure you’re calm on that next flight because ‘interfering with a flight crew member’ is also under this category and can slam you with a felony conviction! Crimes Against Children These crimes involve child endangerment such as child abuse, molestation and statutory rape. Spanking your child can also fall under this category. Do you think spanking your own child is a crime? See our previous post on spanking to find out more information on this controversial subject. Driving & Traffic Crimes If you’ve got a bunch of unpaid parking tickets, you better get them out of your glove box and get to paying or you could wind up in jail. These crimes also involve reckless driving, driving on a suspended license or, even worse, driving without a license. Road rage isn’t worth the price of a ticket, not to mention the harm that could come to other innocent drivers on the road. Drug Crimes Meth, Cocaine and Amphetamines are just a few of the drugs that can get you into hot water and penalized with charges. These are controlled due to the high rates of abuse and are not to be distributed or sold without the proper licensing. Even sharing your prescription with family members is considered a felony. Felonies & Misdemeanors There are different levels and classes of felonies depending on the type and severity of the crime. Level A Class One felonies are the crimes that will land you in prison with a severe sentence. Fraud & Financial Crimes Forgery, insurance fraud and embezzling are just a few of the criminal charges that fall under this category. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to any kind of financial dealings but if you find yourself in hot water, be sure to call a criminal defense attorney in your area. Gun Laws Gun storage, concealed weapons and stun guns are a few of the issues that crop up with gun laws. As long as a gun is used in self-defense, it’s not a criminal charge. However, different states have different laws regarding when self-defense with a gun can be used so it’s best to consult the state laws before taking action. Juvenile Crimes Runaways, truancy and teen sexting are just a few that involve this type of crime. Some of the bigger infractions are teenage DUI, drug possession, theft or assault. It’s basically the same as all the other criminal charges but when a teen is involved and can’t be charged as an adult. Public Nuisance Crimes Urinating in public, obscenities, and disturbing the peace are just a few that will land you in trouble. Now that technology is advancing, drones are another subject that can cause problems for you. The fact that it’s unclear whether they are toys or actual aircraft make the lines blurry on this one, though. Sex Crimes This includes – but is not limited to – date rape, incest and prostitution. Marital rape, while not often reported about, is a criminal charge and is most often enforced by each individual state. In California, this type of rape is just as bad as rape of a stranger and will be prosecuted as such. Theft & Robbery Laws Theft, robbery and shoplifting all fall under this category along with graffiti, vandalism and trespassing. Have you ever heard of “ninja rocks”? They are broken shards of spark plugs that can quickly fracture the side windows of a car. Interesting but illegal! If you ever find yourself charged with a crime, it’s best to seek out the guidance of a criminal defense attorney right away. Know your rights and your options by consulting with an attorney that has your best interests in mind!
Bradley Corbett
Bradley Corbett is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah in 2004. Later he enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where he participated in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Since then he has handled over 2,000 cases.