Violent crime is a general term that covers a wide range of illegal offenses. These involve the use or threat of physical force against other people. Some of the most common violent crimes found in Atlanta include assault, robbery, and homicide, which all carry their own set of legal consequences depending on the severity of the act. If you have been accused of violent crime, an Atlanta violent crime lawyer can guide you through the legal process and defend your interests.
At The Law Office of Delisa Williams PC, we have spent years defending clients who have been accused of violent crimes in the Atlanta area. We have seen firsthand how the gravity of these charges can distress those who have been accused. Our years of experience in this space allow us to quickly investigate the root causes of these accusations and pinpoint what defense strategies would carry the most weight in court to help protect our client’s rights at each step of the case.
There are many different types of violent crime that individuals can be charged with in Atlanta. All of these crimes have been identified and categorized with different legal penalties, like fines and time in prison, to try and deter the behavior from happening. Some of the most common violent offenses found in the area include:
Assault is the act of threatening someone else with harm. It causes them to fear that they are in the way of imminent violence. On the other hand, battery is actual physical contact or harm that has been inflicted on another person. A key detail of battery cases is that the aggravated physical contact must have happened without the other person’s consent to be considered an act of violence.
Acts of robbery are when someone takes someone else’s property without their permission. Robbery is not when someone accidentally takes something but rather does so with intention. These cases are considered violent crimes when someone uses force or threats to conduct the theft.
One of the most commonly known acts of violent crime is homicide. This is when one person kills someone else. However, acts of homicide are divided into two different categories. The first is murder, which is when someone kills someone else with the intention to do so. If someone killed someone without meaning to, this charge would likely be reduced to involuntary manslaughter.
When someone abuses another member of their family, particularly their spouse, this can be considered an act of domestic violence. This is not limited to just physical abuse like hitting or shoving. This can also include mental and psychological abuse.
Anyone who unlawfully abducts someone without their individual or guardian’s permission could be charged with an act of kidnapping. These charges are considered violent crimes when someone uses force or threat to fulfill the act.
Any non-consensual sexual act between two people is considered to be an act of sexual assault. These are violent sex crimes when someone uses force or drugs in the act, like in cases of rape and molestation.
While these are some of the most relevant acts of violent crime in Atlanta, the list goes on and on. Any illegal act can be escalated to a violent crime when there has been a use of threats or force to finish the job. It is important to remember that anyone who has been accused of any violent crime has the right to defend themself against these allegations. Everyone has the right to innocence until proven otherwise. A skilled defense attorney can help combat the allegations you face.
A: Yes, depending on the specifics of your case, there is the possibility for violent crime charges to be reduced or dismissed. There are many different factors that will play into the possibility of these outcomes, like how compelling the evidence is against you or if the information obtained on the case was legal or not. Effective legal representation can help negotiate with prosecutors to increase the odds of either of these outcomes happening if possible.
A: There are many different defense options an individual can take with their attorney, depending on the details of their case. An attorney will look into the strength of the prosecution’s evidence to see if there are any weaknesses that could be highlighted. For example, an illegal search and seizure or a witness with questionable credibility could be two compelling factors to dismiss certain pieces of evidence being used against the defendant.
A: Georgia’s “Stand Your Ground” law was designed to allow individuals the legal right to use force as self-defense without the duty to retreat. This law only applies to cases where the individual being threatened believes that this is necessary to prevent themselves from being injured or killed. If this is true in your violent crime case, your defense attorney can use this law to suggest that your actions were an appropriate act of self-defense.
A: When you are researching different defense lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia, you want to look for someone who has the right education and experience with violent crime cases. During your initial consultation, ask about their track record to ensure they have won enough cases that were similar to your own. Also, take note of how your conversation is going with them. If they strike you as honest, transparent, and an open communicator, these are all good signs of a strong attorney.
If you have been accused of a violent crime in Atlanta, contact our law firm today. For years, we have been defending clients in similar positions to your own, and we would be honored to leverage our lessons learned from previous cases and apply them to your case. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.