When a person commits an act that is deemed criminal in nature by the North Carolina state legislature, it is the prosecution’s job to ensure that the person is punished. Our criminal justice system is concerned with punishing and rehabilitating offenders who has committed acts deemed illegal under our criminal statute.
The law determines that an individual has committed a crime if he/she acts in a way that fulfills each element of an offense. Generally speaking, every crime involves three parts: first, the act or conduct; second, the person’s mental state at the time of the offense; and third, the causation between the offense and the effect.
During a criminal prosecution, the State carries the burden of proof. The burden of proof in a criminal case is beyond a reasonable doubt.
There are various levels of criminal offenses. Infractions are offenses that cannot lead to a person’s imprisonment. For example, speeding tickets are generally infractions. A conviction for speeding can lead to the revocation of a person’s driver license but a defendant can never be imprisoned for a speeding ticket.
Misdemeanors are another level of criminal offense. Misdemeanor offenses are crimes that generally carries a term of imprisonment that is one year or less under our sentencing guidelines. The following crimes are a list of misdemeanors commonly charged in North Carolina.
- Shoplifting
- Underage alcohol consumption
- Driving While Impaired (DWI)
- Affray
- Child Abuse
- Disorderly Conduct
- Littering
- Property Damage
- Harassment
- Providing alcohol to a minor
- Simple Assault
- Simple Possession of Marijuana
- Solicitation of a Prostitute
- Underage alcohol possession
- Underage or Provisional DWI
- Trespassing
- Riot
- Resisting Arrest
- Fake ID
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Failure to Appear
- Discharging a Firearm
- Cyber Stalking
- Carrying a Concealed Weapon
Felonies are more serious crimes that generally carries a term of imprisonment that is one year or more. The following crimes are a list of felonies commonly charged in North Carolina.
- Felony child abuse
- Fraud
- Forgery
- First Degree Murder
- Felony Death by Vehicle
- Arson
- Assault
- Bribery
- Burglary
- Extortion
- Embezzlement
- Credit Card Fraud
- Conspiracy
- Assault with a Deadly weapon
- Breaking and Entering
- Common Felony offenses
- Larceny
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter
- Obtaining Property by False Pretense
- Perjury
- Vehicular Homicide
- Second Degree Vehicular Murder
- Robbery
- Possession of Stolen Goods
- Obstruction of Justice
- Identity Theft
If you have been charged with a crime, call us today and let us fight for your rights.
