The criminal laws and justice system in Connecticut can be extremely complex and confusing. Every now and then, it’s important to take a broader look at how crime is treated in our state and the types of cases that are heard by state criminal courts. No matter what type of criminal case, however, it’s critical to be represented by a law firm that has extensive experience in the Connecticut criminal court system from the very start.
Common Connecticut Crimes
The penal code of Connecticut designates hundreds of acts that are unlawful. Of course, there are the most familiar offenses, such as driving under the influence (DUI), stealing (called “larceny” in Connecticut), murder, and more. However, there are also lesser-known offenses such as bigamy (being married to more than one person) or negligent hunting.
The Uniform Crime Reporting Program publishes an annual comprehensive report on arrest and crime data across the state. In 2015—the most recent year available—73,703 crimes were reported, which can range from arson to larceny to murder. The following are some highlights of this 431-page report.
Violent Crimes
The rate of violent crimes in Connecticut—with the exception of murder—has been declining in recent years. However, there are still many people who face allegations of a variety of violent crimes each year, including the following:
- Murder: 124 people were accused of committing 115 murders in Connecticut. Murder, the intentional killing of another person, is a Class A felony, and is considered to be the most serious criminal offense.
- Rape: “Rape” is now referred to as sexual assault under Connecticut law and involves sexual intercourse without consent through force or threats of force, or with a person who is unable to consent. 794 people were arrested on suspicion of rape that year.
- Robbery: Robbery involves using force or threat of force to steal something from someone else. While many robberies in our state used strong-arm force alone, about 40 percent involved a firearm or knife. Police arrested 2,926 people for robbery in Connecticut in 2015.
- Aggravated Assault: This offense involves a physical attack on another person with intent to cause injury, usually involving a weapon of some sort. 4,090 people faced assault allegations.
- Property Crimes
Not every crime involves violence against another person and most charges involve theft or destruction of property. The following are some property crime statistics from 2015:
- Property crimes involved the theft of $39 million in automobiles, $18 million in jewelry, $15.4 million in currency, as well as firearms, clothing, electronics, and more.
- There were 65,778 arrests for property crimes.
- 10,283 people were arrested for burglary.
- 49,068 instances of larceny occurred.
- 6,427 motor vehicles were stolen.
Other charges that were issued were for arson, gambling, forgery, fraud, embezzlement, vandalism, possessing illegal weapons, prostitution, domestic offenses, alcohol-related offenses, disorderly conduct, and more.
Discuss Your Situation with Our Connecticut Criminal Defense Attorneys as Soon as Possible
While some criminal charges may seem less serious than others, the truth is that any criminal case can affect your life in many ways. Even having a misdemeanor conviction on your record can impact your job and finances. Whether you are under investigation, have been arrested, or have already been charged with a crime, it’s always important to call a law firm with highly experienced criminal defense attorneys immediately.
The team of lawyers at Koffsky & Felsen, LLC have extensive experience with the state and federal criminal justice systems and have the perspective and knowledge needed to provide the highest quality of defense. If you need help, please contact our office online or call us at 203-327-1500 to learn more.
