In the State of Florida, violent crimes are defined as willful, aggressive acts inflicted upon a person or property to which such treatment threatens, inflicts damage or pain, or causes physical harm. In layman’s terms, violent crimes are those that involve the use or threat of force onto another person or property. These offenses do not always have to involve the use of a weapon, such as a gun or a knife, to be classified as violent.
Resulting in extreme harm to victims — including death — violent crimes are punished severely within Florida courts. To ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive fair representation, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney with Silverman and Mack, LLC today.
What Are The Different Types Of Violent Crimes In Florida?
The definition of violent crime is broad, resulting in a number of criminal activities commonly categorized as such, including the following types of violent crimes. Contact us for more information about the types of violent crimes in Florida or to speak with a Gainesville attorney.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assault is a serious physical attack to a victim that is performed with the intent to kill, rob, or rape the victim. Many cases of aggravated assault are performed with a deadly weapon. Aggravated assault is considered a felony and results in severe consequences.
Child Abuse & Neglect
Child abuse constitutes any act or behavior that imparts discomfort, pain or harm to a child. Neglect is the failure to meet the basic needs of a child. Forms of child abuse and neglect can be seen both physically and emotionally and can include substance abuse, as well as sexual abuse.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic violence, or domestic abuse, is defined as a series of abusive behaviors in any type of relationship. In most cases, it involves intimate couples who have an unequal distribution of power. One partner may subject the other partner to emotional, physical, sexual, or financial abuse to exert control and dominance over him or her.
Sex Crimes
Florida law defines sex crimes into two distinct categories — sexual battery and lewd and lascivious battery. Sexual battery is defined as the oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object; however, sexual battery does not include an act done for bona fide medical purposes. This crime requires a lack of consent of the victim. Lewd and lascivious battery is defined as sexual intercourse or sexual activity between any person and a child under the age of 16, which covers a range of sexual activities not necessarily occurring upon another person, but in the presence of at least one other person, and which is generally defined as sexual activity short of actual intercourse.
Arson
Arson is classified as the willful and malicious burning of another person’s property; any dwelling (whether occupied or not); any structure or contents thereof, where people normally present; or any other structure that he or she had reasonable proof to believe was occupied by a human being. To be considered arson, the burning must be proven to be an intentional act.
Theft
The basic elements of theft crimes include knowingly obtaining or using or endeavoring to use the property of another with the intent to either temporarily or permanently deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property or appropriate the property to his or her own use to the use of any person not entitled to use of the property.
The definition of theft in Florida law is subjective and can encompass almost any action wherein someone deprives the owner of the property to the use of the property, even temporarily. Further, the definition of theft necessarily includes attempted theft or endeavoring to use.
Homicide
Homicide, or murder, is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being, which includes first-degree murder and second-degree murder as well as three classifications of manslaughter, which include by act, by procurement, and by culpable negligence.
- First-Degree Murder. Premeditated and carefully planned out the killing of another person,
- Second-Degree Murder. This is killing that is non-premeditated. It is often the result of an attack.
- Criminally Negligent Homicide. Also called involuntary manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide is the killing of another person that is unintentionally caused by gross negligent conduct.
