Crimes of Violence
A violent crime, violent felony, crime of violence or crime of a violent nature is a crime in which an offender or perpetrator uses or threatens to use force upon a victim. This entails both crimes in which the violent act is the objective, such as murder or rape, as well as crimes in which violence is used as a form coercion. Violent crimes may, or may not, be committed with weapons. Depending on the jurisdiction, violent crimes may vary from homicide to harassment. Typically,[weasel words] violent criminals[POV? ] includes aircraft hijackers, bank robbers, muggers, burglars, terrorists, carjackers, rapists, kidnappers, torturers, active shooters, murderers, gangsters, drug cartels, and others.
I Didn't Pull the Trigger. Am I Guilty of a Violent Crime?
No one is guilty of anything until the court/jury makes a decision. You may be charged with a violent crime if you are a co-defendant to an act of violence. There are many degrees of how the crime is viewed in the court system. Was self defense involved? An accident? Were the persons involved in the crime actually charged, or was there someone else? The court looks at all factors and the attorney's job is to ensure that the defendant's story is legitimately explained so that the judge understands if in fact a crime was committed or not. There are options for a defendant who is charged with a violent crime. First and foremost, do not discuss your situation with anyone other than your attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will provide one for you.