Criminal Defense Lawyers

Criminal defense lawyers are ready and available to assist you with the crime with which you are charged. Criminal defense lawyers normally specialize in defending specific crimes. It is in your best interest to retain a lawyer who has a specialty in defending the crime with which you are specifically charged in order to get the best results for your situation.

This page provides general information about a variety of crimes with which defendants are commonly charged. The laws and punishment for these and other crimes vary greatly from state to state, and some may warrant federal penalties. There are many other crimes with which defendants can be charged, and covering them all is well beyond the scope of this page. Check with a Lead Counsel criminal defense lawyer in your area for specific details, including whether the offense is considered a felony, misdemeanor or wobbler, what sentencing sanctions may be imposed, and if the crime with which you are being charged may be considered a "third strike" offense for those who are being charged in a state that has adopted the strict three strikes laws. Check Three Strikes and You’re Out for more information on three strikes laws.

White Collar Crimes - Corporate Crimes

White collar crimes typically refer to a type of crime committed by business people, entrepreneurs, public officials, and professionals through deception normally committed in a commercial setting for financial gain, but also can include violent crimes. They are governed at both federal and state levels. Individuals are typically charged with white collar crime, but corporations may also be charged, particularly with crimes like securities violations and investment fraud, which are also considered corporate crimes.

The Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government the authority to regulate white collar crime, which is enforced by a number of federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Secret Service, U.S. Customs, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). White collar crime is also enforced at the state level with each state employing its own agencies to enforce the laws. Corporate and white collar crimes include such charges as:

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was introduced as a result of the Enron/Arthur Anderson scandal. The Act mandates the separation of auditing and consulting businesses for the purpose restoring public confidence in the investment market. The Act creates a number of new Federal crimes including, document destruction and tampering, securities fraud, certification of false financial statements, and attempt and conspiracy. Many of these crimes apply to both public and private companies, their directors, officers, and employees. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act also significantly enhances penalties applicable to other existing white collar crimes.

Drug Crimes

The U.S. Drug Abuse Regulation and Control Act of 1970 (Controlled Substances Act) is designed to limit and control access to intoxicating drugs and to control certain other drugs of abuse, such as anabolic steroids used by athletes to increase muscle mass. Most states have passed laws that mirror the Controlled Substances Act, although from state to state there are differences and peculiarities. As a rule, a state can add restrictions to the federal Act, but almost never reverses or reduces them. The most common drug offenses include: Cultivation, Distribution, Manufacturing, Possession, Possession for Sale, Prescription Fraud and Trafficking.

Sex Crimes

Many sex crimes are considered felonies, and in states that have adopted the three strikes laws, a sex crime would be considered a "strike." Sex crimes generally include acts of unwanted physical contact for the purpose of sexual gratification. In some states the laws include provisions against aggressive sexually suggestive statements, where no physical contact occurs, which means you may not even have to come into physical contact with the victim to be charged with a sex crime. Sex crimes include such charges as:

Violent Crimes

By definition, a violent crime is a behavior by persons, against persons or property that intentionally threatens, attempts, or actually inflicts physical harm. The seriousness of the injuries to the victim(s), whether or not guns or other weapons were used and/or whether or not the alleged perpetrator has a criminal record will determine the seriousness of the charge. Most violent crimes are considered felonies and are subject to be considered a "strike" in a state that has adopted three strikes laws. Violent criminal charges can include:

• Aggravated Assault - an act amounting to an attempt or threat to commit a battery accompanied by circumstances that make it more severe, such as the use of a deadly weapon, the intent to commit another crime, or the intent to cause serious bodily harm.
• Arson - malicious burning to destroy property.
• Assault and Battery – assault in conjunction with the application of force to another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact (battery).
• Domestic Violence - violence between members of a household, usually spouses.
• Hate Crimes - a crime committed not out of animosity toward a victim as an individual, but out of hostility toward the group to which the victim belongs.
• Homicide - killing a person, whether lawfully or unlawfully. Justifiable homicide and excusable homicide are lawful homicides, while criminal homicide, negligent homicide, reckless homicide and vehicular homicide are unlawful homicides. Unlawful homicide comprises the two crimes of murder and manslaughter.
• Larceny – wrongful and fraudulent taking and carrying away of personal property belonging to another with the purpose of depriving the owner of its possession (theft).
• Manslaughter – A murder that is committed in the heat of passion due to adequate provocation or diminished capacity is considered voluntary manslaughter. A homicide that is committed with no intention to kill or do grievous bodily harm, but that is committed with criminal negligence or during the commission of a crime not included within the felony-murder rule is considered involuntary manslaughter.
• Mayhem – dismemberment or permanent disfigurement.
• Murder - A murder perpetrated by poison, lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated killing; or committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, any arson, escape, murder, kidnapping, treason, espionage, sabotage, aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse, burglary, or robbery; or perpetrated from a premeditated design unlawfully and maliciously to effect the death of any human being other than him who is killed, is murder in the first degree. Any other murder is murder in the second degree.
• Terrorism - politically motivated violence or intimidation directed against a civilian population.
• Theft – illegal taking of someone else’s property, which can include such charges as cybertheft, grand theft, theft by deception, theft by false pretext, theft of service and petty theft.

Should I hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Yes, if you are faced with a felony or misdemeanor crime, including any of the crimes listed on this page, you need to contact a criminal defense lawyer right away. Your legal rights, liberty and even your life could depend on hiring the best attorney to provide quality representation for you, particularly one that specializes in defense strategies for the crime with which you are specifically charged. Don’t delay; contact a Lead Counsel criminal defense lawyer now!