Violent Crimes in Connecticut

 Posted on May 18,2020 in Violent Crimes

Like in any other state, Connecticut does experience its share of violent crime, though it still occurs less often than one might think. At the same time, when someone is arrested and charged with a violent crime, the pressure is on the prosecution to make certain that the right person is convicted. If you have been arrested and charged with any crime of violence, it is crucial that you seek out an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible, as the stakes cannot be higher.

Facing Serious Consequences

A violent crime is any offense involving either bodily injury or the threat of bodily injury, to another person. Some examples, like robbery, can involve the threat of bodily injury being part of committing another criminal offense, but this is not strictly necessary. There is no specific “violent crimes” statute in Connecticut, but many of them are grouped in a similar legal place - in other words, many of them carry the same fines and prison sentences if someone is convicted. Crimes such as assault and battery, kidnapping, domestic violence, murder/manslaughter, sexual assault, and various weapons crimes are just some of the offenses classified as violent in Connecticut.

Violent crimes are generally tried as felonies, and depending on the degree, the resulting jail sentence can be anywhere from 1-10 years for a Class C felony (for example, manslaughter in the second degree), to life without the possibility of parole for a capital felony (murder with special circumstances, such as murder for hire or murder of a child under age 16). While judges do have a degree of discretion in sentencing for many violent crimes, this is not the case for capital felonies, even with Connecticut’s repeal of their death penalty statute in 2012.

Defenses Are Possible

If you have been charged with a violent crime, it can feel impossible to have any hope of telling your story or getting a fair day in court. However, a charge is not a conviction; the law does allow you to assert any affirmative defenses you may have at your disposal. Affirmative defenses are those that try to get mitigating information into the record, rather than specifically trying to contest the truth of the charge - essentially, it is a legal justification for the crime. A common example is alleging that certain evidence should be inadmissible, or that a witness’s statement should be thrown out of court.

That said, even if you escape conviction, you should be aware that the whole experience will almost certainly carry potential outside complications. Depending on the type of crime, the mere fact of you being arrested, even if you are not convicted, can cause serious social and financial consequences. Potential bosses, landlords, and other authority figures are able to view criminal records through background checks, and a violent crime on someone’s record immediately explodes any pretense at respectability for too many.

Can a Stamford Violent Crime Defense Attorney Help You?

Being charged with a violent crime, especially if it is one you did not commit, can be a life-changing event. You need a dedicated Stamford violent crimes defense attorney on your side so you can be sure that your rights are protected and you get the best chance possible to tell your story in court. The team at the Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner has handled many of these cases and is happy to work hard on yours. Contact our offices at 203-348-5846 today for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/rpt/2012-R-0134.htm

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/connecticut-governor-signs-bill-to-repeal-death-penalty