Basic Differences Between Property Crimes and Violent Crimes

 

Primarily, crimes requiring the help of a criminal defense attorney can be divided into two main categories. They are namely property crimes and violent crimes. In this article, we are going to detail the main differences between the two, apart from the penalties involved for both in most states. 

 

Property Crimes 

 

According to the definition of the FBI, crimes are classified along a hierarchy. In such a scenario, property crimes are lower on the scale compared to violent crimes. Property crimes are ranked below as no threat of force or force is applied against the victims of the crime.  

Property crimes usually encompass four basic areas: 

 

• Larceny-theft: If you are purposely depriving someone else of the rights to their property  

• Burglary: Illegal intrusion into a business premise, home, or structure to commit a crime 

• Arson: Deliberately burning a structure or property 

• Motor vehicle theft: Willfully taking someone else’s motor vehicle 

 

Property Crime Statistics 

 

We are pleased to share a few statistics regarding property crimes, based on national findings from 2011 onwards. 

 

• Above nine million property crimes take place in the United States each year. 
• They are nearly nine times more common compared to violent crimes. 
• Property crimes have witnessed a slow decrease between 2007 and 2011 of more than 8 percent. 
• Larceny-theft happens to be the commonest instance of property crime, occurring in 68 percent of reported cases. 
• Burglary was the second-most common instance at just above 24 percent of reported cases. 
• Motor vehicle theft included nearly 8 percent of reported cases. 
• Arson figures weren’t detailed. 

 

Penalties For Property Crime 

 

Charges for property crimes are mostly felonies. 

We can cite the example of a burglary charge which is usually a Class 2 felony with a penalty of 3 to 7 years in prison. But it can be raised to a Class 1 felony if committed in specific settings. 

There are harsher penalties for residential burglary. It is usually a Class 1 felony with a penalty of 4 to 15 years in prison. Possession of burglary tools is considered to be a Class 4 felony with a penalty of 1 to 3 years in prison. 

 

Violent Crimes 

 

Violent crimes are ranked higher on the FBI crime hierarchy as force or threat of force is applied against the victims of the offense. 

 

Violent crimes usually encompass four basic areas: 

 

• Forcible rape: Sexual assault  

• Murder and non-negligent manslaughter: Ending someone’s life – with or without purpose 

• Aggravated assault: Leading to bodily injury or serious bodily injury 

• Robbery: Snatching property or money 

 

Violent Crime Statistics 

 

Here are a few statistics on violent crimes defended by some Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys. We have accessed the national information available from 2012. 

 

• Aggravated assaults are the commonest violent crime, at nearly 63 percent of reported cases.  

• Nearly 1.2 million violent crimes occur yearly in the United States. 

• Almost 400 violent crimes occur out of every 100,000 U.S. residents. 

• Forcible rape consists of nearly seven percent of reported cases. 

• Robbery makes up nearly 30 percent of reported cases. 

• Murder makes up just above a single percent of reported cases. 

 

Penalties for Violent Crime 

 

Charges for violent crimes are predominantly felonies too.  Felony charges fall along the following scale: 

 

Class X felony: 6-30 years in prison 

Class 1 felony: 4-15 years in prison 

Class 2 felony: 3-7 years in prison 

Class 3 felony: 2-5 years in prison 

Class 4 felony: 1-3 years in prison 

Murder: 20-60 years in prison 

 

Felonies have fines of almost $25,000 per conviction as well. 

 

Conclusion 

 

Whenever you are facing any such charges, the penalties can be nothing less than life-altering. To reach a positive outcome, you need to contact the best lawyer in California today for consultations.