What Are The Three Types Of Violent Crime?

Crime is motivated by a variety of reasons. For example, people who live in places with high poverty rates are more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as crimes, since they tend to assume that they lack the financial capabilities to maintain their standard of living. Retaliation, the rush that comes from committing a crime, the thrill of the chase, mental illness, or addiction are potential additional drivers of criminal behavior.

The victim of a violent crime suffers harm or is threatened if they receive threats or experience violence. While there are various violent crimes, some are far more serious than others. Hence, a violent crime lawyer is well-versed in a wide range of crimes and how to detect offenders, seize and convict them, and prosecute the perpetrators.

Here, we’ll look at some types of violent crimes and explore their distinctions. Also, we’ll discuss the possible punishments for these offenses.

Three Types of Violent Crime

Aggravated Assault and Battery

An individual can be charged with aggravated assault against another person when they deliberately attempt to cause another person substantial bodily damage without regard for their life. Depending on the circumstances, a crime involving a physical attack may be classified as either assault, battery, or both.

There are two categories of assault that include simple and aggravated assault. It all relies on the severity of the damage done to the victim. For instance, an attack conducted with a weapon or intent to commit another significant crime is considered the more serious offense of aggravated assault.

In some jurisdictions, like Maryland, aggravated assault is divided into three levels. The first degree covers the most severe forms of physical harm, while the second degree encompasses serious injuries that may not be as life-threatening as those in the first degree. To explore second degree assault in Maryland, understanding the legal specifics and potential consequences is crucial for both the accused and the victim in these cases. The third degree covers assaults that cause minor injuries or no injury at all.

Crimes against another person that results in harmful or offensive contact without their knowledge are known as criminal battery. When the crime results in substantial bodily harm or the use of a dangerous weapon, it is an aggravated battery.

Murder or Non-Negligent Manslaughter

A homicide is committed when another person is unlawfully killed. Killing another human being with the intent to harm as a subsequent thought is one definition of premeditated murder.

The term “malice” refers to understanding one’s intentions and the desire to carry them out. As a result, when someone murders another to harm them, a malice afterthought arises. Murder in the first and second degree are two distinct crimes. The murder committed in the first degree is intentional, whereas the murder committed in the second degree is not.

On the other hand, manslaughter is considered to be third-degree murder. Manslaughter is a type of homicide that unintentionally causes the victim’s death. These crimes are considered less severe than murder because of their motives.

Sexual Assault and Rape 

It’s relatively uncommon for this kind of case to raise questions about the use of weapons, if the victim was forced to engage in sexual activity, or whether the victim was physically and psychologically disabled, among other things.

What Forms of Penalties Do Violent Crimes Have? 

If a person is charged with a violent crime, they must expect stiff penalties. It commonly comprises the following: the nature of the crime, the amount to which the other person was injured, the occurrence of aggravating factors, such as the use of a dangerous weapon, and the victim’s characteristics.

When someone is found guilty of a more serious felony offense, such as murder or kidnapping, they are typically sentenced to five to ten years (or even longer) jail term and receive harsher criminal fines. A misdemeanor charge may be issued for minor offenses, such as a battery. There is a possibility of less than a year in prison and reduced fines if this happens.

Final Thoughts

DNA and other scientific and technological evidence can be used as evidence in these cases. Ultimately, criminal defense lawyers who have handled violent cases must know how to evaluate and question such evidence to either reject it or demonstrate its lack of reliability.