Any violent crime carries high penalties upon a conviction, but if you have a criminal record or if extenuating circumstances apply, the conviction consequences might be severe. The best way to avoid being put behind bars and trying to cope with the impact of a criminal record is to exercise your right to a lawyer sooner rather than later.
If you can share all the details surrounding your arrest and any possible evidence, your attorney will have the necessary information to look into motions to dismiss or plea deals.
Being accused of a violent crime in California is a serious situation and regardless of whether or not you think the charges are inappropriate or not backed by solid evidence, you need the support of an experienced California criminal defense attorney to help you. Given that the FBI statistics show that violent crime is up in California and across the United States for the second year in a row, it is important for anyone who has been accused of a crime to recognize the severity of the situation and to retain legal support.
Property crime rates and violent crime were uneven across the Bay Area in California and around the country because some jurisdictions reported decrease in numbers, while others were on the rise. Property crime including stolen cars, thefts and burglaries decreased by 2.9% in 2016. However, in California the number of people murdered increased by 3.7% following an increase of 9.7% from the year before. California’s violent crime experienced the highest rises in major cities such as San Jose, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles.
Some of the numbers captured in 2014 indicated historic lows for violent crimes. Violent crime numbers across the country were driven by year to year boost in cities like Baltimore, Chicago and Phoenix. Anyone who has been accused of any type of violent crime would do well to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately.