Washington, D.C. Violent Crime Lawyers

Overview of Violent Crimes 

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines violent crimes as involving force or the threat of force. These crimes can be charged and prosecuted at both the state and federal levels. At the federal level, they may be investigated by powerful law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA, ATF, or Homeland Security. 

Typical violent crimes in D.C. and Maryland can include:

• Assault. This can include physical attacks and threatening another with violence without any physical contact. Assault charges in D.C. vary in severity from misdemeanor simple assault to felony aggravated assault. 
• Threat. In D.C., two forms of the criminal offense of “threats” exist 1. Threats to do bodily injury, and 2. Threats to kidnap or injure a person or damage their property. Charges range from misdemeanors to felonies. 
• Kidnapping. This crime involves seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away an individual against their will. It may be charged as a violation of D.C. law or federal law. Depending on the circumstances, you could face up to 30 years in prison.
• Arson. A person commits arson in D.C. when they destroy another person’s or entity’s property by fire. The property can be real or personal property not belonging to the alleged offender. It is also a criminal offense to burn your own property if the intent is to defraud or injure another. Depending on which underlying arson code you are charged with, you could face up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to 15 years in prison.
• Sexual assault. Many types of sexual abuse or assault charges exist in D.C. that can range from misdemeanors punishable by up to 180 days in jail and fines of up to $1,000 to felony crimes that involve force or the threat of force that are punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $125,000. 
• Involuntary manslaughter. This can be charged as either manslaughter due to criminal negligence or misdemeanor manslaughter. In the former, the death of another was caused by a gross departure from reasonable care for the life of another. In the latter, the death occurred during the commission of an underlying misdemeanor that created a risk of injury to another. Penalties can include up to 30 years in prison.
• Voluntary manslaughter. This charge is based on acting upon a sudden quarrel, in the heat of passion on sufficient provocation, or when believing deadly force is necessary for self-defense. It carries up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 
• Homicide. You are guilty of first-degree murder when you intend to kill another purposely, with premeditation and deliberation, or you kill while committing a felony. You are guilty of second-degree murder if you have the required mental state before the killing, but the crime was not premeditated. The distinction between first-degree and second-degree murder is that first-degree murder requires premeditation, while second-degree murder requires only proof of malice after the thought. Murder is punishable by a mandatory minimum 30-year prison term or up to life in prison.