In United States criminal law, all crimes can be broken down into different elements. In order to convict the defendant, these elements of a crime must then be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. Most crimes require that three essential elements...
As everyone knows, felonies are harsher crimes than misdemeanors. For that reason, people convicted of felony crimes face serious penalties like large fines and time in state prison. However, there are some instances where the penalties for a felony can increase even more. If a person...
Sexual assault is an extremely serious charge in the state of Arizona. A person found guilty of sexual assault faces not only a felony conviction on their record, but also placement on the sex offender registry. These penalties can impact a person's life forever, affecting...
Every crime in Arizona has a penalty, and usually, the penalties are very specific. For example, the penalty for first degree murder is either life in prison or capital punishment. However, there are some crimes where the penalty may change, increase, or decrease, depending on...
Although dogs may be man’s best friend, they are still animals, and will sometimes act in an unexpected way. For example, a non-aggressive dog can suddenly growl and snap at a person if they feel stressed or threatened. And, if a dog bites and injures...
Under normal circumstances, a juvenile defendant under the age of 18 is sent to juvenile court for their crimes. However, a juvenile charged with felony crimes may find themselves being treated as an adult with adult-level penalties. For example, let’s say a gang initiates three 15-year-old...
Second degree murders in Arizona are an extremely serious offense. If found guilty, defendants face lengthy jail time in state prison. Two men are leaving a bar at the same time on a Friday night. One of them says something to the other, and the other...
There is no doubt that being threatened with physical harm is extremely scary. Sadly, these types of violent crimes do occur each year, including in Arizona. What many people do not realize is that Arizona law allows victims of violent crimes to defend themselves in...
Felonies are the most severe type of crimes, and they carry the toughest penalties. While most people understand that a felony crime conviction includes jail time and fines, they may not realize they can lose certain rights if they plead guilty to a felony. One...
Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is a polarizing legal issue in our nation. And it’s extremely relevant to citizens of the Grand Canyon State, as we are one of 31 States in the US where the death penalty is still legal. On three separate...