Violent Crimes in Georgia
Our Columbus lawyers handle the following Georgia violent criminal offenses:
| Murder in the First Degree Murder in the Second Degree Felony murder Manslaughter – Voluntary Maiming Domestic violence Child abuse Capital punishment & Death penalty |
Manslaughter – Involuntary Attempted murder Aggravated assault Car jacking Battery Simple assault Rape Kidnapping |
Navigating The Confusing World Of Violent Crime Under Georgia Law
For those who have been charged or convicted of violent crime, it can be a maddeningly difficult process to wrap your head around. Whereas the penalties for other types of offenses are fairly straightforward, “violent crime” contains such a broad panoply of different and myriad offenses that it can be difficult to know where you stand. Under Georgia law, violent crimes are anything from murder one and rape to simple or aggravated assault, robbery and even car jacking.
Along with the different types of violent crimes, there are various legal and judicial penalties that can be ascribed to an offender in the court of law. Generally, once a suspect has been arrested and police have reviewed the evidence, the District Attorney makes a determination on whether the state will file charges against the alleged offender. Upon arraignment, the charged offender will enter a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest to the charges, and the legal course will unfold from there, depending upon the plea.
The following are the most commonly adjudicated violent crimes in the state of Georgia
Murder, Attempted Murder And Manslaughter
Murder in the first degree or the second degree is one of the most obvious, yet heinous of the violent crimes. The penalty can range from 15 years to life in prison, or even the death penalty if the special circumstances clause is found to be relevant. Attempted murder and manslaughter are treated along the same lines as is murder, however the penalties are often much less severe, especially for manslaughter. Manslaughter is where the state finds an offender guilty of killing someone accidentally and without intent. Murder and attempted murder invariably involve the element of intent by the offender.
Assault and Battery
Depending upon the nature and the severity of the assault, an assault and/or battery charge can be deemed either a misdemeanor or a felony. Generally, misdemeanors carry up to a year in jail time, fines, possible probation, and in the case of violent crimes, usually a court mandated anger management rehabilitation program. In many cases, for first time offenders with no real criminal record, the court will be lenient, but again, it all depends upon the unique circumstances of the case.
Armed Robbery and Car Jacking
Georgia law takes a fairly harsh stance when applying penalty to armed robbery and car jacking offenders. Generally all such cases are charged as felonies, and carry with them significant prison time.
Sexual Assault and Rape
For cases of sexual assault and rape, alleged offenders generally face the full brunt of the court as sentencing goes. Along with stiff and lengthy prison terms, most of those convicted of sexual assault and rape will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. This means that they will face severe restrictions on where they can live, and where they can even be present without breaking the law.
Domestic violence
Domestic violence is a common violent crime, and despite the popular conception, nearly as many cases of domestic violence involve women beating up and abusing men. These cases depend a lot on the extenuating circumstances surrounding the case, and can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
If you are suspected of or charged with a violent crime in Georgia, then contact a seasoned Columbus GA violent crime defense lawyer.