Georgia Violent Crimes & Domestic Violence
- Are all violent offenses treated the same?
- What kind of punishments are there for these types of offenses?
- Is there anything that can be done to keep me from being convicted?
- This is my first violent offense, will they go "lighter" on me?
- I'm guilty, can I get help in this case?
The courts typically classify violent offenses as those that involve some sort of unwanted physical contact, whether it is relatively minor or extremely severe. Examples of violent crimes include: murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.
Here at Plichta, Alavi & Associates, P.C. we have a great deal of experience in helping people charged with violent offenses. We have handled hundreds of violent cases and have seen a great deal of success in both preventing people from receiving convictions where they are unjustly charged with these crimes, or seeing that the cases are reduced in such a way to prevent our clients from going to prison.
1. Are all violent offenses treated the same? (back to top)
No; because of the great degree of difference between the various violent offenses, some violent offenses can be relatively minor. However, most prosecutors and judges take violent offenses much more seriously than they do non-violent offenses, and as a result it can be much more difficult to achieve a dismissal or a reduction in the charges. Violent offenses also require trials more than most other types of cases.
2. What kind of punishments are there for these types of offenses? (back to top)
The punishment for violent offenses can range from something as minor as 12 months of probation to something as serious as spending the rest of your life in prison. A lot will depend on the type of violence that was allegedly committed. For instance, punching someone would not be treated nearly as severely under the law as shooting someone or stabbing someone with a knife. For this reason we will look at the individual facts of your case and give you our best assesement of what we believe the likely range of punishment in your case could be. Then we will talk about how we can prevent that from happening in your important case.
3. Is there anything that can be done to keep me from being convicted? (back to top)
A great deal would depend on whether the person has a prior record for this type of crime or if the victim has a previous case with this defendant. If there is a history of violence between individuals it may make it much more difficult to succeed in this case. We will work closely with our client to ensure that the best possible defense can be found in the case. We will work vigorously to identify all witnesses and find all evidence that proves that our client did not commit this type of violence, or if they did commit the act, that they were doing so in self-defense or for some other justifiable reason. In that way, we may be able to help avoid a wrongful conviction of our client.
4. This is my first violent offense, will they go "lighter" on me? (back to top)
The fact that its the first time that this offense has happened probably plays very little role in what the prosecutor and judge may think happened. The best example that can be given for this is if it’s your first time ever being charged with murder, that does not mean that they’re going to go easy on someone charged with murder for the first time. Though this may be an extreme example, it is how the judges and prosecutors appear to think about these cases. However, in the more minor violent offense cases, the lack of any history of prior violence may help convince the prosecutors that the crime was not committed or the person is deserving of a lighter punishment.
5. I'm guilty, but I want to put this behind me, can I get help in this case? (back to top)
We appreciate those clients who are honest with us and admit that they may have committed an act and are in need of assistance. We will work to see that there is a fair resolution of your case and help you get the treatment and assistance that you need to ensure this never happens again. Our society is full of violence and people often without even realizing it, commit acts of violence because it has become so common-place. If we take earnest efforts to rectify the crimes that you committed, we may be able to convince the prosecutor or judge that you have turned over a new leaf and are truly desirous of making sure that no future violence ever occurs. We may be able to gain a sentence other than jail time through a negotiation of a plea in your case. If this is your desire, we will assist you in seeking the best outcome possible in your case. However, if you did not do what you are accused, we will fight even harder to see your innocence is proven.
© 2008 Plichta, Alavi & Associates (770) 955-1511
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