Understanding The Penalties And Punishments Of Armed Robbery
One of the most aggravated crimes that a person can commit is armed robbery.
Glorified by television, movies and video games, it is not always easily understood just how serious a charge being accused of this crime can be.
Unlike simple theft, armed robberies by definition means that the potential for violence was accelerated by the use or threat to use a weapon with deadly intent.
Theft vs.
Robbery Theft by definition, is characterized as being generally non-violent, usually taking the form of shoplifting, taking funds through the practice of deception as in check fraud or even burglary of a vehicle or home.
Because there is no direct confrontation with an individual, it is considered to be of less violence and will be punished as such, even when it may take the form of fraud or embezzlement.
In extreme cases, the punishment sentence will often have a maximum of no less than 15 years but generally, depending on the state, could be as low as 5 to 7 years.
Robbery on the other hand involves the direct confrontation of at least one individual by the perpetrator.
Crimes like mugging, pick pocketing and purse snatching could easily fall into this felony category, as can cases where a gas station or bank is robbed.
This crime alone could see a convicted felon facing a term of no less than 15 years, depending on the state, but as low as 10 years.
The lines of justice begin to blur and the desire for greater punishment comes into play when robbery is escalated to armed robbery, a first degree felony whose propensity for violence demands a stiffer sentencing and penalty.
Is it the Act or the Potential? For a robbery to be considered at a higher degree there must be a direct threat of violence to the victim involved.
It does not necessarily mean that the act of violence be committed, but that the victim of the robbery could rightfully believe that it could have happened.
The threat alone would make it more than a simple robbery; instead the accused would be charged with an aggravated robbery.
As long as the victim believes that the accused threatened them with violence, the charge could legally stand.
When the threat involves a weapon of some kind, especially a firearm, then it escalates further into a new level of violent crime.
All that is required is for the victim or witnesses to the crime to believe that the robber was armed or witnessed brandishing a weapon of some kind; it is legal for this charge to be levied.
This applies even if the accused had no intention of doing harm or had not even discharged their weapon.
The fact that they were armed is all it takes.
Armed robbery sentencing can include a term in prison of up to 30 years, more if a federal institution like a bank was the intended target.
If anyone is injured or killed during the execution of the crime, the courts have the option of tacking on a monetary penalty as well, often given to the family of the victim, depending on the accuser's actions during the commission of the crime.
Glorified by television, movies and video games, it is not always easily understood just how serious a charge being accused of this crime can be.
Unlike simple theft, armed robberies by definition means that the potential for violence was accelerated by the use or threat to use a weapon with deadly intent.
Theft vs.
Robbery Theft by definition, is characterized as being generally non-violent, usually taking the form of shoplifting, taking funds through the practice of deception as in check fraud or even burglary of a vehicle or home.
Because there is no direct confrontation with an individual, it is considered to be of less violence and will be punished as such, even when it may take the form of fraud or embezzlement.
In extreme cases, the punishment sentence will often have a maximum of no less than 15 years but generally, depending on the state, could be as low as 5 to 7 years.
Robbery on the other hand involves the direct confrontation of at least one individual by the perpetrator.
Crimes like mugging, pick pocketing and purse snatching could easily fall into this felony category, as can cases where a gas station or bank is robbed.
This crime alone could see a convicted felon facing a term of no less than 15 years, depending on the state, but as low as 10 years.
The lines of justice begin to blur and the desire for greater punishment comes into play when robbery is escalated to armed robbery, a first degree felony whose propensity for violence demands a stiffer sentencing and penalty.
Is it the Act or the Potential? For a robbery to be considered at a higher degree there must be a direct threat of violence to the victim involved.
It does not necessarily mean that the act of violence be committed, but that the victim of the robbery could rightfully believe that it could have happened.
The threat alone would make it more than a simple robbery; instead the accused would be charged with an aggravated robbery.
As long as the victim believes that the accused threatened them with violence, the charge could legally stand.
When the threat involves a weapon of some kind, especially a firearm, then it escalates further into a new level of violent crime.
All that is required is for the victim or witnesses to the crime to believe that the robber was armed or witnessed brandishing a weapon of some kind; it is legal for this charge to be levied.
This applies even if the accused had no intention of doing harm or had not even discharged their weapon.
The fact that they were armed is all it takes.
Armed robbery sentencing can include a term in prison of up to 30 years, more if a federal institution like a bank was the intended target.
If anyone is injured or killed during the execution of the crime, the courts have the option of tacking on a monetary penalty as well, often given to the family of the victim, depending on the accuser's actions during the commission of the crime.
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