Crime Definitions
Assault
Assault is the threat or attempt to physically harm someone, while battery is the actual act of physical violence. These two crimes often occur together and thus are often charged together.
Domestic Violence
Physical or psychological abuse and/or negligence perpetrated against a member of a household by another, often spouses or significant others.
Drunk Driving / DUI
Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There are laws prohibiting driving under the influence of many other substances.
Drug Offenses
A wide range of crimes dealing with the use, distribution, possession, or command of any controlled substance, or illegally used or distributed prescription medication.
Embezzlement
The theft or misappropriation of assets that belong to an employer, company, or governing body, but are entrusted to the person(s) committing the crime.
Extortion
The act of or attempt to take assets from another person through intimidation, coercion, or other threats. Actual procurement of the assets is not required for the crime to be considered extortion.
Fraud
Deceit with the intent of depriving someone of his/her property.
Illegal Possession of Weapons
The unlawful possession of any banned weapon, including various knives, automatic weapons, and others. Can also include the unlawful possession of any weapon at all by a person specifically not allowed to possess one, such as a convicted felon.
Murder
The intentional killing of one person by another. In most jurisdictions, any planned murder, or any death occurring during the course of a crime is considered first-degree murder, and all others are considered second-degree murder.
Molestation
Any lewd or lascivious act perpetrated against a child up to 18 years old, including sexual touching, flashing, rape, pornography, and exposure to sexually explicit materials.
Probation Violations
Any violation of restrictions imposed on a person as a condition of his/her probation.
Rape
Forced sexual intercourse against the victims will, usually accomplished by means of duress, menace, violence, or force.
Sex Crimes
Any illegal sexual behavior, including incest, indecent exposure, rape, molestation, sexual assault, sexual abuse, statutory rape, necrophilia, bestiality, and more.
Theft
The illegal, non-consensual taking of another persons property. This term is sometimes used as an umbrella term encompassing larceny, burglary, embezzlement, looting, and similar crimes.
Vehicular Manslaughter
Causing the death of a person through the reckless, negligent, or illegal use of a motor vehicle.