A crime is an act or omission that violates a law established by a governing authority, which may be a local, state, or national jurisdiction. It is an offense against society as a whole, rather than just a private individual. Crimes can range from relatively minor infractions, such as traffic violations, to serious offenses like theft, assault, murder, or fraud. The commission of a crime is typically accompanied by a set of specific elements and intent that must be proven by the prosecution to establish guilt. The consequences of committing a crime can vary, including fines, probation, imprisonment, or in severe cases, capital punishment. The purpose of criminal law and the prosecution of crimes is to maintain social order, protect individuals and their property, deter criminal behavior, and provide a system of justice for victims and the community.
Driving is a privilege, not a right, and that privilege can be temporarily withdrawn or permanently revoked for a variety of reasons. In Maryland, the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has the authority to suspend or revoke a driver’s license. The suspension or revocation of a license is not only a significant inconvenience but also a […]
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Under Maryland law, a person may not engage in what is known as disorderly conduct or what is sometimes referred to as disturbing the peace. Several different actions are considered to be criminal conduct under the relevant Maryland statute. See Md. Code Criminal Law 10-201. Disorderly conduct includes the willful and without lawful purpose obstruction or
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Malicious destruction of property is a property crime in Maryland in which a person willfully and maliciously destroys, damages, or defaces someone else’s property without the property owner’s permission. See Md. Code Criminal Law Ann. 6-301. Under recent changes to Maryland law, malicious destruction of property is a misdemeanor offense regardless of the value of
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First-degree assault is a felony criminal offense that is committed when a person causes or attempts to cause a serious physical injury to another person without legal justification. Conduct that would normally be considered a second-degree assault that is coupled with the use of a firearm is also considered to be an assault in the
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Wanton trespass is a property crime that is committed when a person is present on the property of another after being notified by the owner of the property or a person under his or her authority to keep off the property and when there is no good faith claim of right to remain on the
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An indictment is a charging document or written accusation that a prosecutor submits to a grand jury to aid the prosecutor in deciding whether or not to charge a person with a crime. If the grand jury finds that there is probable cause to believe that (i) a crime was committed and (ii) the Defendant
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A conspiracy exists when two or more people enter into an agreement with one another to accomplish a criminal or unlawful purpose or to accomplish a lawful purpose by criminal or unlawful means. A conspiracy to commit a crime is, by itself, a separate criminal offense in the State of Maryland. Conspiracy is what is
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Aiding and abetting is a common law theory of criminal liability. A person who is an aider and abettor may be guilty of the principal offense even though he or she did not personally commit the action(s) or omission(s) constituting the principal offense. In other words, an aider and abettor may be criminally liable for
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Harassment is the following of another person in a public place or maliciously engaging in a course of conduct that seriously alarms or annoys the other person with the intent to harass, alarm, or annoy the other person after receiving a reasonable warning or request to stop by the other person and without legal purpose.
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Shoplifting or retail theft generally refers to the theft of merchandise from a retail store or a place of business. Shoplifting is a variation of a theft crime, which simply means taking and carrying away the property of another person or business without permission and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the
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