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How Are Criminal Offenses Categorized in Maryland?
Not all criminal offenses are treated the same and if you’ve been charged with any kind of crime, it’s important to understand the differences between them and potential defenses for each. Below is a breakdown of the five different types of criminal offenses and what you can expect when you reach out to an attorney for help.
Organized or White Collar Crime
Organized crime, or white collar crime, is nonviolent offenses such as extortion, money laundering, smuggling of contraband, human or drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and the manufacture or distribution of counterfeit products. In many cases, white collar crimes are organized across multiple countries and involve many different people. That said, some white collar criminal offenses are committed by individuals.
Violent Criminal Offenses
Crimes against other people, or in some cases animals, are generally considered to be violent crimes. Examples of violent crimes include but aren’t limited to homicide, manslaughter, sexual assault against an adult or child, assault and battery, robbery, child endangerment, kidnapping, and gang crimes. These offenses generally carry the harshest punishments in response to the seriousness of the alleged crime.
Tech Crimes
Tech or computer crimes may be considered white collar or organized depending on the type of crime and how it was committed. Common tech crimes include wire fraud, identity theft, debit or credit card fraud, and other types of cybercrime.
Crimes That Violate Public Order
Criminal offenses that violate public order are crimes that are considered to contradict or interfere with societal order. Common public order offenses faced by defendants in Maryland may include adult pornography (child pornography is considered violent), prostitution, solicitation, drug offenses, and drunk and disorderly conduct.
Crimes Against Property
Property crimes are usually categorized as nonviolent when people aren’t involved. For example, arson is a property crime unless one or more people were in the building that burned. Other property crimes may include trespassing, vandalism or other destruction of property, possessing stolen items, auto theft, shoplifting, and similar “victimless” offenses.