Orange County Violent Crime Attorney
If you are charged with a violent crime in California, you could be facing some of the most serious consequences possible in the state. Violent crimes (including rape, murder, sexual battery, assault, battery, carjacking, manslaughter, and robbery) are generally classified as "strike" crimes, meaning that if you are convicted of one of these offenses, you will have a "strike" on your record. The second time you are convicted of a crime, you will receive a heavier sentencing, and the third time, you could spend your life in prison.
Due to the severity of these offenses, it is absolutely vital to the future of your case that you enlist the help of an experienced, aggressive and knowledgeable attorney. An Orange County criminal defense lawyer at The Law Office of Bruce C. Bridgman can provide you with experience, as the firm has successfully defended countless individuals from a wide variety of violent criminal charges in California. When you are faced with serious punishments, you need to be sure that you can trust your attorney to give you the best chance at a positive outcome in your case.
Penalties for Violent Offenses
The penalties for violent offenses vary drastically from case to case. Not only are there different punishments mean to fit the crime, but the court will also take into account any prior offenses and violent offenses on a person's record. For example, if someone has been convicted of two prior felonies, and they are arrested for a third felony that is violent, they could face 25 years to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole due to California's Three Strikes Law.
California is also a state that upholds the death penalty or "capital punishment" by way of lethal injection as a punishment for certain types of first-degree murder such as murder by way of torture. To learn more about the penalties for murder, refer to California Penal Code ยง 187. Assault and battery are violent offenses detailed in Chapter 9 of the Penal Code and other crimes against the person of both a sexual and non-sexual nature are outlined in Title 9 Chapters 1 through 5.
Defending the Rights of the Accused
The violent crime statistics, particularly in Southern California, are high. Cities closer to Los Angeles County begin to see spikes in violent crime rates, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics of late seem to indicate a drop in violent crime and overall crime rates in the O.C. For example, in 2011 the overall crime rate for the county fell by four percent. The largest decrease was in violent crimes, while property crimes remained virtually the same. The Orange County Register reports that other Orange County cities such as Irvine and Anaheim did not follow this pattern, with Irvine staying the same and Anaheim increasing 10 percent.
Due to the heavy concern over violent crimes and in response to the ever-changing crime statistics, the California courts are very strict when dealing with violent criminal cases. Depending upon the circumstances of your case, you could even face a lifetime in prison or the death penalty in cases of murder. Prosecutors in California courts are very determined to see violent criminals put away to the greatest extent of the law. You face the serious risk of suffering an extremely and overly severe punishment. For serious offenses, you need strong representation from an Orange County violent crime lawyer on your side.
That is why it is so important that you allow a defense lawyer from their firm to help provide you with the litigation skills, advice and representation that you need. Even if you are innocent of any charges, it is still very important that you speak with a lawyer. Nothing could be worse than spending years in prison for a crime that you didn't commit. To learn more about legal defense, contact The Law Office of Bruce C. Bridgman for a free consultation today!