No one wants to face criminal accusations. They can take an individual by surprise, leaving the person unsure on where to turn. This can be especially true when accused individuals are accused of violent crimes. Offenses like murder, robbery, assault and rape are aggressively prosecuted in Michigan, meaning a person could be subjected to serious, life-changing consequences.
Let us look at first degree murder charges as an example. In Michigan, first degree murder is a killing that is deliberate, willful and premeditated. First degree murder charges may be brought if an individual is killed during the commission of another crime, like arson, child abuse, robbery or kidnapping, amongst others. Additionally, an individual may come face-to-face with first degree murder charges if the person is suspected of killing a police or corrections officer who is acting within the officer’s legal authority.
The punishment for a first degree murder criminal conviction is devastating. Those who are convicted are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In addition to stripping an individual of the person’s freedom, a criminal conviction can cause financial harm to the individual’s family if the person was the sole wage earner, and it could cause a family to suffer a damaged reputation within the community. In short, murder charges and convictions can ruin individuals and families.
For this reason, it is crucially important that those who face violent crime allegations aggressively fight them. By educating themselves about the law, the potential penalties, and available legal strategies, accused individuals may increase the chance that they reaches a fairer outcome. Sometimes, this means speaking with a legal professional who puts their best interests first.
Source: Michigan Legislature, “750.316 First degree murder; penalty; definitions,” Accessed on Jan. 16, 2015
