Criminal Records Information

Criminal records information can be very helpful in giving one a thorough glimpse of a person’s character. Penal law offenders usually go through lengths just to hide their past. While every person is entitled to some degree of privacy, the public is also granted the right to peek through criminal records in order to be fully apprised as to a person’s trustworthiness. For general information regarding criminal records and tips on how to get them online, feel free to go over these articles we have prepared for you.


 How to Conduct an Online Criminal Investigation
You can conduct criminal investigations yourself, by using resources easily available to you online. Records such as criminal records and driving records can be accessed online and lend you valuable clues for your criminal investigation. Read more...
 Criminal Court Transcripts... and Hollywood
Criminal court transcripts are useful sources of ideas and background information for TV shows and movies. Whether the producers or directors of the show want to have an actual court proceedings scene, or are planning to make a whodunit plot, these transcripts can definitely help provide a more believable setting for such segments. Read more...
 Clear Criminal Record Through Expungement
If you had been convicted of a minor offense and the case has already been dismissed, you may get your criminal record expunged. Expungement is a way to clear criminal record. Read more...
 Conviction Records – How To Clear Them
If you are applying for a job, security clearance or professional license, cleaning your conviction records may be one of your primary concerns. You may be allowed to clear conviction records only if you have already finished your probation and followed all court orders; and if there are no new charges against you. Read more...
 Searching For County Criminal Records – Tips And Guide
In some counties, records of felony and misdemeanor cases are maintained in one database. In some counties, felony and misdemeanor records must be stored in and obtained from separate jurisdictions.  Read more...
 Criminal Background Check – A Way To Prevent Bad PR and Financial Losses
A simple criminal background check enables you hire competent people who can bring your company to greater heights. Not conducting a criminal background check, on the other hand, may cause you bad publicity and major financial losses.  Read more...
 Criminal Background Checks - A Step By Step Guide On How To Conduct One
Criminal background checks are essential part of the hiring process. They are conducted to ensure that the potential employee is free of criminal liabilities and doesn’t have undesirable criminal history. Criminal background checks would be beneficial not only to the employer but as well as to the person’s coworkers.  Read more...
 Getting Criminal Court Records – Frequently Asked Questions
Criminal court records are permanent records of proceedings and judgments of a trial court of record. Checking criminal court records has become a standard procedure done as part of a thorough background check on individuals.  Read more...
 Criminal Public Records – Terms That Blur Their Meaning
Criminal public records often contain words or phrases that are not familiar to common people; these include jargons of legal practitioners. Although the meaning of these words can also be understood by considering the context in which they are used, they sometimes cause confusion. Read more...
 Criminal Record Check – Myths And Facts
A criminal record check then is not just a standard procedure in the selection and hiring process. It is also the company’s defensive move against those with malicious intent and those who are potentially detrimental to the company. Here are some myths and facts about the subject. Read more...
 Are Police Records In Your Background Check Checklist?
Police records are compilations of a person’s identification, arrest, incarceration, warrant information and other information that pertains to one’s involvement with the police (like when one is interrogated or brought by the police to a hospital). One may have police records even if the person is not charged with an offense or convicted.  Read more...
 Why Check Criminal Records – Facts You Need To Know
Criminal records are records that provide detailed information about the crimes a person has committed or has allegedly committed. Criminal records contain information like date and reason of an arrest, prosecution, and conviction. Read more...
 The Different Types of Legal Abandonment
What is abandonment? Abandonment comes in different forms. Whether it pertains to people, property, intellectual property or any other kind of material, it can lead to fines or more serious forms of punishment.  Read more...
 Abuse of the Disabled - One of the Worst Crimes Possible
What is abuse of the disabled? Being disabled does not make life any easier, so abuse of disabled people quickly becomes a crime. Read about examples of often unaware criminal behaviour within this area of crime. Read more...
 What is Abuse?
How far should abuse go before it becomes a crime? Are children protected enough? Read about the different types of abuse and the possible penalties. Read more...
 Adultery - A Crime against Marriage
What is adultery? It is the crime against public morals and the institution of marriage. Find out what causes adultery and real-life adultery statistics today. Read more...
 Make the Skies SafefFrom Aircraft Hijacking...
What is aircraft hijacking? Terrorism has made aircraft hijacking  a serious threath. Who is to stop it and what are the consequenses? Read about the most recent developments in this area of crime. Read more...
 Protecting Wildlife Through Anti-Animal Poaching Laws
What is animal poaching? Defensless but not helpless, there is founded and good reason why there is legislation to protect animals. Serious punishment is possible for this criminal offense so read on. Read more...
 What is Arson?
Arson is when a simple fire becomes a serious offense. It is a crime against possession and punishment can vary depening on the state in which the crime is commited. Read more...
 Bail Offenses - Why You Should Never Skip Bail
What are bail offenses? Bail can be used for different reasons. Since it is intended to be a guarantee in the first place, a bail offense is not a smart thing. Read on to discover the different  types of bail offenses.  Read more...
 Battery - The Crime of Inflicting Injury
What is battery? Harming other people intentionally in various ways is a serious offense. Find out about battery as a crime and the legalities concerning it. Read more...
 Bioterrorism And Its Criminal Implications
What is bioterrorism? Maybe the most serious of terrorist acts, bioterrorism is a criminal offense with heavy penalties. How is it done, who is doing it and how do we stop them? Find out more about these facets of bioterrorism. Read more...
 How to Identify Blackmail
What is blackmail? Financial gain through blackmail at the expense of others is a serious offense, but is that blackmail or extortion? Read about the exact definition of blackmail and related crimes. Read more...
 Bootlegging - A Buying and Selling Crime- A History in the United States
What is bootlegging? Although shifting from liquor to music and film, bootlegging is still a serious criminal issue. Intellectual property deserves the same protection, but is it possible to control through regulations and enforcement of law in the international system?   Read more...
 What Makes Breaking and Entering a Crime?
What is breaking and entering? A high percentage of crime relates to the violation of property boundaries. Breaking and entering can have different motives, but what exactly quantifies as breaking and entering and what are the consequences for perpetrators? Read more...
 Bribery - The Crime of Exchanging Favors
What is bribery? A person's integrity plays a big role in the issue of  bribery. When is it okay to pay a little extra and when does tipping become a crime? Find out about the fields in which bribery is used and what are their legal implications. Read more...
 Bullying - Powerplay on the Playground
What is bullying? Everyone can relate to intimidating behavior by classmates in school, but is it limited to adolescents? And if not, where else does it occur and how is our legal system equipped to deal with it? Read about some practical incidents. Read more...
 Burglary - Unlawful Entering
What is burglary? Although easily associated with theft, burglary can have different motives and is not in all cases the crime we think it is. Find out when it is not and which elements actually make up burglary as a crime. Read more...
 The Criminal Truth About Cannibalism
What is cannibalism? We see it as a huge disrespect for human life, but there is a history to cannibalism that simply shows it as part of tribal rituals. Is survival a valid reason to eat another human being? When is at a crime?  Read more...
 Child Labor - Unlawful Employment of Children
What is child labor? Our children are our future. In some cases, this is taken a bit to literally and children are put to work at an age where it is not allowed. Read about the history of child labor and how this exploitation of children is now dealt with. Read more...
 Child Murder - Killing the Innocent
What is child murder? Vulnerable and innocent, killing children is one of the worst crimes around. Who would do such a thing? Surprisingly it does happen the other way around as well, where children are the actual murderers... Read more...
 Child Prostitution - An Escalating Problem
What is child prostitution? Is poverty the only motivator? Exploitation of children is bad enough, but child prostitution takes it to another level. Tackling the problem has and will not be easy but it must be done. Read more...
 Child Trafficking: Child Exploitation at its Worst
What is child trafficking? Exploitation of children has become a global problem and child trafficking is a key criminal offense contributing to this global problem. Read more about the harsh reality of this crime today. Read more...
 Computer Crime - The Little Known Ways That You Can Be a Victim
What is computer crime? The advancement of technology also has it's downsides. Computers are so common these days that people often forget that computer crime exists. But it is a serious and growing problem. Find out about some of the different types of computer crime. Read more...
 Are You Guilty of Consensual Crime?
What is consensual crime? Can anything  be a crime if you agree? How should we define crimes that someone, at the time, might actually agree to? Are we always aware? Some examples of real situations. Read more...
 Copyright Infringement = Stealing!
What is copyright infringement? If someone else thinks of it, can't I think of it as well? What copyright means and how it is intended to protect the intellectual ideas of someone. Read more...
 What Makes Counterfeiting Currency a Heinous Crime?
What is counterfeiting currency? Getting rich the easy way: print your own money! Since the intrinsic value of money has declined over years, the replication of money has become more and more interesting for criminals. Learn how counterfeiters are caught and what penalties they face. Read more...
 How to Prevent Credit Card Fraud
What is credit card fraud? It is the  use of your Read more...
 Crimes Against Humanity - Crime on a Grand Scale
What are crimes against humanity? These are grave offenses made to a vast number of people. Crimes against humanity have been with us since time immemorial. It does not mean, however, that we should let it go on forever. Luckily today, there are international bodies that we can call on to intervene and - hopefully - put an end to these heinous offences against man. Read more...
 Crime and Forensics - Using the Latter to Solve the Former
Crimes occur everday and it is a gargantuan task to solve all of them. However, thanks to advancements in forensic technology, we move one step closer to really serve justice for all. Read more...
 Crimes Against Property I
What are crimes against property? Unfortunately, we live at a time when crime is very much a part of our society. As such, it is important to know about crimes against property and all the other crimes prevalent today so that we can arm ourselves with what’s going on around us and know what we can do if and when we encounter or become direct victims of these crimes. Read more...
 Crimes Against Property II
What are crimes against property? Unfortunately, we live at a time when crime is very much a part of our society. As such, it is important to know about crimes against property and all the other crimes prevalent today so that we can arm ourselves with what’s going on around us and know what we can do if and when we encounter or become direct victims of these crimes. Read more...
 Criminal Damage - Offenses Against Personal and Public Property
What is criminal damage? It is an offense against property but how it is quantified? Basically, one is convicted of this crime if it is proved that the wrongdoing was done with malicious intent. Read more...
 What are Date Rape Drugs?
Date rape is one of the hardest crimes to approve because the victim and the offender know each other. To help prevent this crime, educate yourself by finding out what offenders use to incapacitate their victims so you can stay clear of them.
 Read more...
 Date Rape - The Misunderstood Sex Crime
What is date rape? Put simply, it is the crime of  forcing someone to engage in sexual activity. The main difference - and what is making this crime difficult to prove - is that victim is a social acquaintance of the perpetrator. Read more...
 Domestic Violence - Crimes within the Home
What is domestic violence? It takes place when a family member, a domestic partner, or ex-partner physically or psychologically dominates and/or causes harm to another family member. Are you in a household where domestic violence is a daily occurrence? Read more...
 Drug Trafficking And Its Penalties
What is drug trafficking? Drug trafficking is the illegal production, distribution and exchange of psychoactive substances. The substances are sold in black markets, especially in areas with low or “zero-tolerance” rules. It is a grave criminal offense since it  triggers other forms of acts such as violence, crime, rebellion and vandalism. Read more...
 DUI - Driving Under the Influence
What is DUI? DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, refers to the act of operating a motor vehicle while drunk. Conviction is based on the legal limit for alcohol content in the blood, which is .08 grams/deciliter in 45 states. A person’s blood alcohol is determined through a urine exam, blood analysis, or Breathalyzer test. Since these tests aren’t 100% accurate, showing a large margin of error in many cases, a DUI arrest doesn’t guarantee conviction. Read more...
 What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse is neglect of the elderly. For many of us, it's hard to imagine neglecting our parent in their old age. However, as the most notorious cases of elderly abuse will show, this crime is often committed by people closest in relation to the senior person concerned. Read more...
 What is Embezzlement?
Embezzlement occurs when a person deceitfully misuses money or property entrusted to his/her care by another party. Embezzlement can range from a cashier simply pocketing a few bills to the chief financial officer of a large company diverting funds to a personal bank account. Read more...
 How Stopping Environmental Crime Saves the World
What is environmental crime? It is any wrongdoing or offence against Mother Nature and the world we live in. People seem to forget that there is only one Earth ands that harming it is damaging our own existence in this planet. Find out about the different types of environmental crime and maybe it will change the way you look at environmental offenses. Read more...
 Extortion - Threat and Coercion for Personal Gain
What is extortion? Extortion involves the act of obtaining money, property or services from another person by coersion, force, or by threatening to cause injury or harm unless one’s demands are given. Extortion is a criminal offense that is usually practiced by organized crime groups. The  money or properties obtained by these groups are often referred to  as “protection”.  Read more...
 Felony - Crime and Punishment - Everything You Ought To Know About Crime
What is a felony? These are crimes of a graver or more serious nature. Each state classifies felonies differently and as such, redners punishments differently as well. Read more...
 First Degree Murder And Its Penalties
Murder is the killing of another human being with “malice aforethought”. Malice aforethought means that there is intention with the performed killing. This element then makes the act considerable for express malice. First degree murder is a Class A felony, due to the fact that the killing was planned, ruling out the possibilities of frustration and accident. Another term synonymous with malice aforethought is premeditation, which means that the person who committed that crime has considered or thought of the crime carefully before it was carried out.  Read more...
 What is Forced Entry and Why is it a Crime?
Forced entry is the act of entering a structure without due permission by the owner and using force as an element during the entry. The offense of unlawful entry may be subject to further criminal acts like theft or murder. The structure can be described as any formation that has defined perimeters such as a house, garage, car, boat, stable or cage. Also, there should be a form of boundary access that is used as a means to enter with force like a door, window or wall.  Read more...
 The Little Known Ways Forgery is Committed
What is forgery? It is the act of replicating something with the express intention of fooling others that it is the original (of what was copied). However, did you know that forgeries are not always considered a crime? Find out when deceit of this kind is considered a criminal offense. Read more...
 Defining Fratricide And Its Nature As A Crime
What is fratricide? It refers to an individual who commits murder wherein  the victim is his/her brother. The term is also commonly used in military context as friendly fire. Friendly fire occurs when a combatant advertently or inadvertently kills another person belonging to the same group. The killing of an ally may be penalized depending on the intent and manner. There are several cases of fratricide throughout the years wherein some individuals have been sentenced with capital punishment or the death penalty. Read more...
 Fraud - Gain through Misrepresentation
What is fraud? It is to intentionally deceive someone for personal gain. It is often said that there is fraud in what most people do but when is it 'too far' that it is considered a crime? Read more...
 Frustrated Murder - Can a Missed Attempt Be Considered a Crime?
What is frustrated murder? Murder is defined as the intention and act  Read more...
 Gang Rape - Rape by More than One
What is gang rape? Gang rape is identified as the sexual assault on a single person by two or more offenders. Gang rape is also referred to as group rape or pack rape. In many jurisdictions, gang rape is more severely punished than rape committed by one person. Read more...
 Genocide: The Crime of Group Murder
What is genocide? Genocide is a deliberate and systematic attempt to annihilate or destroy a group of people often based on their race or ethnicity as well as religion and politics. And while many associate this term with the Jewish Holocaust, genocide, sadly, is prevalent at this day and age. Read more...
 Government Corruption - Dishonesty at the Highest Levels
Government corruption is the acceptance of any form of bribe by a government official for various reasons, often, for the betterment of the person offering the bribe. Government corruption goes beyond the usual handing over of a 'sealed envolope'. Find out what constitutes this crime today. Read more...
 Graffiti - Art or Vandalism?
What is graffiti? It is any lettering or image drawn, scratched or spray-painted on another property (usually, a wall). There is a thin line that separates graffiti as art from vandalism and making that delineation has proven to be difficult not only for the government but also for private citizens. Read more...
 Grand Theft Auto - Vehicle Stealing on a 'Higher' Level
Car theft occurs just about everywhere but do you know where they most occur and what the chances are of ever retrieving your vehicle? Find out too if your car is a 'hot brand' that actually attracts car thieves. Read more...
 What is Happy Slapping?
Happy slapping is a fairly new addition to crime. It started out as a fad but has evolved into a criminal act. Happy slapping occurs whenever there is an assault of any kind, whether it is physical or sexual. What makes happy slapping 'unique' is that there is a camera phone involved in the process, since a third party accomplice is often on hand to record what happens. Read more...
 Homicide - To Kill a Human Being
What is homicide? Homicide can be simply defined as the act of killing another human being. While the term homicide by itself does not necessarily pertain to an illegal act, many jurisdictions use the term in a criminal context. Read more...
 Human Trafficking - The Crime of Exploiting Human Beings
What is human trafficking? Human trafficking or slavery still exists today, over half a century since being declared a crime against mankind by the international community. And after over 140 years after we thought slavery ended when the 13th Amendment was ratified, the US is still a favorite destination of modern day slave traders for their victims. Read more...
 How to Stop Yourself from Being Victim of Identity Theft
Identity theft is one of the most common crimes committed today. While technology has made our lives easier, it has also made us more vulnerable like never before. Find out more about this crime and how you can prevent it from happening to you. Read more...
 What Is Illegal Dumping And How Is It A Criminal Offense?
What is illegal dumping? It is the discarding of thrash in an improper manner. Illegal dumping can be as simple as throwing one's thrash in his/her neighbors premises or as complicated as a factory throwing industrial waste in the environment. Read more...
 Illegal Immigration And Why People Still Keep Doing It
Illegal immigration is unlawful entry across international borders, violating the immigration laws set by the countries involved. An illegal immigrant is an alien or person who does not lawfully belong in a certain area due to the coverage limits of his race, documentation or birthright. Read more...
 Illegal Logging - Definition and Sanctions
Illegal logging is the unlawful collection, transportation, barter, trade or release into the market of timber. There are national laws that strictly require loggers and the companies involved to have permits in each process to be legitimately approved. In each step, the loggers must be aware and knowledgeable about the limits, details and manner by which they accomplish the tasks. Read more...
 Immigration Offenses - Crossing Border No-Nos
Immigration offenses usually take place when one overstays or goes beyond the limits as stated on his travel documents (visa). This may be unintentional or intentional. Either way, it's best to avoid it so that you don't get deported (and blacklisted) from the country you want to settle in. Read more...
 Incest - Sex with Family Relations
What is incest? It pertains to any sexual activity between two family members whose degree of relationship is prohibited by law and/or custom to marry. Even cultures that are sexually permissive and allow child sexuality and experimentation forbid incestuous relationships. Read more...
 Inchoate Offenses - Committing the Crime of Intention
What are inchoate offenses? These are wrongdoings that focus on a person's intent to commit a crime. Many think that just because a crime was not carried out or did not bear intended result, that it is not a crime. This is proven wrong by existence of inchoate offense charges. Read more...
 What Is Inciting to Sedition?
Inciting to sedition is the act of trying to cause unrest. It is to encourage people to rebel against a established or governing body. This is far from exercising your right to freedom of speech. For example, when you falsify facts to entice unrest, this is inciting to sedition. Read more...
 Indecent Exposure and Its Criminal Nature
What is indecent exposure? It is the act of intentionally revealing a portion (or more) of your body. The 'revelation' is done beyond the standards set by public laws in terms of decency. As such, it's considered an offense.  Read more...
 Industrial Espionage - Spying on a Grand Scale
What is industrial espionage? It is spying conducted for commerical purposes. In short, it is not just spying 'to know' but spying 'to profit'. Read more...
 What You Need To Know About Insider Trading And How The Law Handles It
What is insider trading? It is the illegal exchange or barter of a firm’s bonds, stocks or other features by firm insiders such as directors, executives or other individuals possessing more than ten percent of shares. Basically, it's the illegal use of information for personal gain. Read more...
 The Legal Implications Of Internet Fraud
What is internet fraud? It is the use of services or materials in the World Wide Web to deceive another individual. The offender may make use of websites, forums, Web logs, e-mail and chat rooms as mediums. It is entirely a scheme made for the sole purpose of acquiring information, monetary gain or deceiving the entities involved. Read more...
 Larceny - The Crime of Illegal Possession
What is larceny? It is the illegal taking of another person's personal property with the intent of completely depriving him/her of it. Larceny is often not seen as a vicious crime but it is when you consider the value of the item taken and its effect on the person(s) from which it was taken.
 Read more...
 Libel and Slander - The Crime of Harming Another's Reputation
What are libel and slander? These are acts committed for the sole purpose of 'bringing down' or hurting another person's name or reputation. Slander and libel are normally carried out by making false statements, accusations or even documents that pretend to support the negative claim against the intended party. Read more...
 The Crime of Looting
What is looting? It is the act of taking goods (stealing) during unusual circumstances such as the occurrence of a natural disaster,  unrest (e.g, during a riot), and others. Looting is charactereized by the mob mentality; i.e., because others are doing it, others are encouraged to join the foray. Read more...
 Lynching - The Rule of the Mob
Lynching pertains to violence and murder used by perpetrators to pass extrajudicial judgment for their perceived offenders as well as terrorists to enforce social domination. Lynching can also be defined as the illegal execution of an accused person by a mob rather than by legitimate means. Read more...
 Manslaughter - Killing Without Intent
What is manslaughter? Compared with murder, manslaughter is a less serious offense of taking another person’s life. The reasoning behind the lower level of culpability of manslaughter is that it lacks the intention to kill or malice aforethought which is determined to be present in case of murder. Read more...
 Marital Rape - The Underestimated Sexual Assault
Marital rape is one of today's 'silent crimes'. It happens more often than we think but those who are victims of it do not speak out because of fear and the incorrect thought that it is not a crime at all because the perpetrator is one's spouse. Learn more about marital rape and fight for your right to say 'no'. Read more...
 Mutiny - Gaining Power in Numbers
What is mutiny? By general definition, mutiny is an act of conspiracy whereby a group of individuals agree to disobey an order or orders of similarly-situated individuals who are often part of the same organization as the mutineers. Read more...
 What is Necrophilia?
Necrophilia is all about domination. Studies show that since necrophiliacs cannot control the living, they gain pleasure in dominating the dead. Read more...
 Organized Crime - A Systematic Way of Perpetrating Offenses
Organized crime refers to groups of individuals who have banded together to commit unlawful acts and make a profit in the process. In the United States, being part of the mob is called racketeering and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act regulates activities related to it. Organized crime is usually composed of individuals from the same ethnic background banding together, such as Italians, Irish, Japanese and Russian. Read more...
 Parricide - The Murder of a Blood Relation
What is parricide? It is the murder of one’s close relative, particularly one’s father and/or mother. The term can also refer to the perpetrator who committed the crime. Parricide is one of  several forms of family homicide.. Read more...
 Password Trafficking - Gaining Illegal Access
What is password trafficking? It is the illegal distribution, trading or selling of passwords via any medium. The passwords may be codes for credit card access, computer system access or any other material that may cause harm or damage the credibility of the legal owner. There is the intent to defraud or violate privacy in the part of the offender, which makes the offense a misdemeanor to a crime depending on the damages incurred by the invasion. Read more...
 Pedophilia - Sexual Crimes Against Children
Pedophilia is a grave crime againts children. Not only does it rob them of their childhood but it seriously negativeley affects these kid's mental health. Find out what pedophilia really is and its related punishments. Read more...
 Perjury - Lying Under Oath
What is perjury? It is any act committed by a person who lies or give false statements under oath. Perjury is a serious offense because it's consequences can be grave for the parties concerned. Have you ever committed an act of perjury? Read more...
 Police Brutality - Law Enforcement Misconduct
What is police brutality? It is the use of a law enforcer's power to inflict physical and/or verbal abuse. This type of offense is widely untolerated by society for the simple reason that one would expect protection and not abuse form law enforcers. Read more...
 How The Law Defines And Sanctions Prostitution
What is prostitution? It is the bartering of sex or the physical body with money or anything else which has value to the seller. The seller can independently be the prostitute or the pimp or person who manages. Read more...
 Red Light Running - The Dangers of Beating the Red Light
What is red light running? Put simply, it is a driver's attempt to 'beat the red light' and thus drive on despite the presence of a red light signal. It may not seem so offensive but did you know that it is the second most driving behavior? Read more...
 Robbery - Stealing by Force
Robbery is the act of seizing or taking another person’s property by force, violence or intimidation. Common law defines robbery as the offense of taking another’s property with the intent of permanently depriving the rightful owner of that property.  Read more...
 Serial Killers - An Unquenching Desire for Death
Serial killers are those who commit murder by the numbers regardless of whether they commit the crimes in fast succession or after a 'pause'. Serial killings are often characterized by a 'trademark' or 'signature' left by the murderer. Read more...
 Smuggling - Illegal Transport
Smuggling, also known as trafficking, can apply both to goods and people. By definition, smuggling is the illegal transport of these, particularly across the border of two countries.  Read more...
 Speeding - Rushing Can be Dangerous!
What is speeding? It is the crime of driving beyond the speed limit dictated by law on a specific road (or streatch of it). Speeding may not seem dangerous but it can nonetheless result in the serious loss of property and even life. Read more...
 Squatting - Setting Up Illegal Residences
What is squatting? It pertains to the act of illegally setting up residence in premises that you do not own or rent. It is prevalent in those areas where space is scarce, thus the need to take up occupancy in places where there is no owner who can drive you away. Read more...
 Stalking - The Crime of Unwarranted Attention
What is stalking? It is the offense of subjecting somebody to 'too much attention' to the point that the object of the attention feels threatened. Read on to find out the latest statistics regarding this crime. Read more...
 Statutory Rape - Sex Crimes Against a Minor
What is statutory rape? It is rape that happens when an adult engages in sexually activity with a minor who is under the Age of Consent (AOC). The Age of Consent is the prescribed age when a person is deemed competent enough to consent to sexual activity.  Read more...
 What is Terrorism?
Terrorism, broadly defined, is a crime or series of crimes intended to strike fear in its victims. The broad definition further breaks down into more than a hundred definitions, most of which agree that a terrorist act not only involves a violent act but also the THREAT of it.  Read more...
 Thuggery - A Prevalent Cyber Crime
While thuggery is a term that is more commonly associated with hip hop slang, it also refers to organized hacker activity. Similar to identity theft and identity fraud, thuggery allows for credit card numbers to be stolen and used for illegal purposes without the user's authorization. Read more...
 Trafficking in Women - Sex Exploitation in Global Proportions
Trafficking in women is one form of human trafficking with women as the victims of the crime. It is closely associated with the sexual exploitation of women and is one of the ever-increasing criminal phenomena in present society. Read more...
 Treason - Crimes Against Your Own Country
What is treason? It is committing acts that show one's unfaithfulness to one's own country. Treason is a bit hard to prove and because of this not many are convicted of this crime. However, there was once a time when it was regarded as the worst offense one can ever commit. Read more...
 Criminal Charges Against Trespassing
What is trespassing? It is the illegal entering of private premises without the legal consent of the owner. However, there is such a thing as 'allowed trespassing'. Find out what constitutes this permissible offense. Read more...
 What is Usury and Why is it a Criminal Offense?
What is usury? It is when somebody charges excessive interests on another individual who borrows money from him or her. The interests are exagerated charges on loans, equity or currency conversion.  Read more...
 What is Vandalism?
Vandalism is a crime that involves the mutilation or destruction of a structure or disembodiment of a symbol, that another governing establishment or private party has jurisdiction over. Forms of vandalism may be both an act of artistic expression or contempt against the owners or governing body. Either way, it is disrespectful and destructive to private or public property, which is why it is prohibited by law.  Read more...
 Vehicular Manslaughter - When is a Road Accident Considered a Crime?
What is vehicular manslaughter? It is the offence of taking a human life as a result of a violation of driving and traffic laws. This crime is not applicable only to the driver of the vehicle that caused the crime; i.e., it can be applied to passengers of the said vehicle as well. Read more...
 What are Victimless Crimes?
Victimless crimes are referred to as such because, despite being illegal, they don’t threaten or violate any person’s rights. Since the term suggests that these acts shouldn’t be outlawed as there are no victims, the term “public order crimes” is now more commonly used in the US. Read more...
 White Collar Crimes - Offences in the Corporate World
What are white collar crimes? These are offences that take place usually in business world. Usually, it is committed by a 'person of standing' such a the company's CEO or one of the memebrs of the Board. Whoever commits it though,  and whatever way it's carried out, it's an abuse of power and influence for personal gain. Read more...
 White Slavery - Forced Prostitution and Sex Exploitation
What is white slavery? It is the act of kidnapping or intimidating someone (usually, women) to engage in prostitution. Although deemed 'barbaric', white slavery is rampant today and a direct relation between victims and the economies of the countries from which they come from are seen. Read more...
 Wiretapping - The Crime of Listening Over Phone Lines
What is wiretapping? It is committing the crime of observing telephone calls and lately, internet exchanges. The term 'wiretap' comes from the way the telephone line wires are used to apply the connection for monitoring and the 'tapping' of electrical signals to deliver the message. Read more...
 Abortion As A Criminal Act: Guide To Premises, Procedures, And Legalities
Abortion is the expulsion of an embryo or fetus that is incapable of independent survival through induced termination of pregnancy.  Read more...
 Aggravated Assault: Why Is It Criminal?
Aggravated assault is defined as attempting to give serious injury to the body of a person. Hurting a person physically with the intent to rape, kill or maim is also considered as aggravated assault. Injuring or attempting to injure a person with the use of a deadly weapon is grounds for aggravated assault too. Read more...
 Aiding A Fugitive Could Make You A Criminal
A fugitive is someone who runs away from unpleasant circumstances or from government or private groups. This article, however, will concentrate on fugitives of the United States government. A person who escapes from prison or who absconds from government custody is considered to belong to this category of fugitives. Read more...
 Making False Bomb Threats Could Land You In Jail
The steady threat of terrorism worldwide and continuing attacks on different parts of the globe, which have cost thousands of innocent lives, has given birth to a highly sensitive level of vigilance among law enforcements and private individuals. The mere mention of a bomb, even if done in jest, could merit not just raised eyebrows from those within earshot, but also a conviction and fines. Given the trauma that came after 9/11, anybody who says the word “bomb” or brazenly (stupidly) attempts to make a false claim on the existence of one is slapped with Class E felony charges, among others.  Read more...
 Check Kiting - Unlimited, Yet Illegal, Cash Flow
Check Kiting is the act of drawing out excess money from a bank account when in fact, the account does not have enough funds to completely cover the check. It is a fraudulent scheme which takes advantage of the “float” or the time between the issuance of the check and the clearance at the bank. Two banks are used to create the illusion of having real assets or money in one thereby using the time of transfer to draw out extra cash Read more...
 What Is Color of Law Abuse And Why Is It A Crime?
When a police officer, after arresting and handcuffing a person, gives him a blow in the head for no apparent reason, then that is a crime under the color of law. A federal officer who uses his position to gain sexual favors; that is also under the color of law. Simply put, color of law abuse means to act like or to pretend to be under legal authority or jurisdiction, but really is not. Color of law abuse is also known as police misconduct.  Read more...
 What Does Compounding A Crime Mean And How Is It Penalized?
Compounding a crime or felony is the act of agreeing with a thief or felon not to prosecute in exchange for the stolen goods or other rewards for not prosecuting the alleged. The individual who is compounding the crime may be immediately affected by some circumstances, which explain the mischievous act. The offender may be someone sitting in office or has legal rights to prosecute violators of the law. Read more...
 Criminal Impersonation: What You Need To Know
Criminal impersonation is a crime where a person assumes the identity of another person to deceive other people for gain or profit. Read more...
 Criminalizing The Transmission of HIV
Infecting a person deliberately or recklessly with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is considered a criminal act by the United States and some other countries. A person can be charged with Criminal Transmission of HIV for such act. Other criminal charges like murder, attempted murder, assault, or manslaughter can also be filed against a person if found guilty. Read more...
 Identifying And Penalizing Cyberstalkers
The crime of cyberstalking is committed when there is the use of electronic communications devices to harass a victim. Usually, the attacker uses certain electronic communications devices such as the Internet, e-mails or instant messaging (IM), or through social web sites or discussion groups that allow him or her to remain anonymous in order to stalk their victims undetected, sending them with often threatening messages.  Read more...
 Criminalizing Acts That Intentionally Damage Property
Property damage can refer to several things and can be manmade, brought about by natural causes, or both (as with a neglected wall crack that resulted in a collapse when a storm hit). Most of the damaged property that springs from a hurricane or other natural forces is unintentional and is rarely classified as a crime. However, intentional property damage, especially those that have malicious intentions can amount to huge fines and jail time.  Read more...
 How The Law Deals With Defacement Crimes
Defacement is the act of intentionally marking or removing the portion of an image or article which is specifically created to fulfill the entity of the piece. Defacement is a form of vandalism which may include the presence of actual planning to successfully desecrate the image or article. Website defacement is also a term used in cyberspace to describe the electronic graffiti or system cracker which altered an original existing home page. Read more...
 How The Law Deals With Disorderly Conduct
Disorderly conduct is the act of an individual disturbing public peace. The nature of the act is to corrupt the public morals, outrage the sense of public decency, affect the peace and quiet of persons who may witness them, engage in brawling or fighting or engage in such conduct as to constitute a breach of the peace. Disorderly conduct is typically a misdemeanor of the second degree. It is punishable although some statutes do not strictly enforce laws for the offense. Read more...
 FACE - Denying People Entry To Clinics Is A Crime
FACE, or the Freedom of Access to Clinics Act, was signed into law in 1994 to criminalize the use of force, threats of force, and physical obstructions to prevent any individual from entering reproductive health clinics, regardless of the nature of business and the intention. The need for such an act was recognized in the late 80s to the early 90s, when blockades and public protests against reproductive health clinics, particularly those that welcome abortion and the like, turned too passionate that they became destructive and hurtful.  Read more...
 Issuing And Using False Drug Prescriptions Is A Crime
Using/Issuing a false drug prescription is defined as the obtaining of a controlled substance or any prescription drug through illegal means. It could be through forging prescriptions, altering prescriptions, and other tactics to be able to acquire a prescription drug. It is a felony, which means that it is punishable by law with imprisonment for a year, to say the very least. Read more...
 How To Detect Flim Flam Scams
Flim flam is the act of a human person deceiving another individual through swindling or creating a confidence play that presents clever persuasion or smart manipulation. The offense can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the value of properties or money acquired and counts of violation. The offender intentionally tricks the victim into investing real property or money in exchange for value of reputation by the offender. In common law jurisdictions, flim flam may be referred to as “theft by deception,” “larceny by trick” or “larceny by fraud and deception.” Read more...
 Get A Food Stamp Violation And You Might Land In Jail
Food stamp provision is a program of the US government aimed at helping low-income households so that they have the opportunity to acquire food staples. Providing false information to get food stamps or using food stamps in ways other than their original purpose is a crime punishable by fines and jail time. Read more...
 Harboring Illegal Aliens: How Is It A Crime?
Illegal alien is the term used for a person who illegally entered and migrated into the country. But the term illegal alien doesn’t only apply to those who have illegally entered the United States. There are also those who have entered the country legally but are staying illegally. An example would be using a tourist visa to enter the United States but still remaining after the visa expires. Such, too, can be called illegal aliens. Read more...
 Health Care Fraud - Patients Beware!
Health care fraud is the act of knowingly and willfully executing or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits or services or obtains any property of the health care benefit program by false representations. The law is applicable to fraud targeting private insurance agencies, insurance programs responsible for medical payments and public health care programs. Read more...
 Hit And Run: Turning Your Back On Road Responsibility Is A Crime
Hitting a person or the property of a person and to flee the scene right away without identifying oneself is the crime called Hit and Run... Read more...
 Homophobic Crimes: Why They Happen And How They Are Punished
Homophobic crimes come from the word homophobia. The root word literally means the irrational fear or discrimination against homosexuals or homosexuality itself. Basically, homophobic crimes are offenses committed with homophobia as the main motivation. Victims do not necessarily have to be gay or lesbian, but deemed to be so by the offender. The crimes may be in the form of bullying, harassment, assault, verbal abuse, name calling, damage to property, and graffiti. Read more...
 Hostage Taking - What Makes It A Crime?
A hostage could be a person, animal, or thing that is held captive. Hostages have two classifications: those seized by force, held captive and treated like a prisoner, and those handed over voluntarily as  proof that one will follow with what was agreed upon. This type of hostage is more like a 'guest'.  Read more...
 Why Is Illegal Detention A Crime?
Illegal detention is willfully, deliberately and intentionally confining another human person without legal authority and consent. The offender apprehended, arrested or confined another individual with direct intent and without reasonable ground to do so. There is unlawful exercise of right and voluntary restrain. Detention may also be applicable to property or objects when persons confiscates or withholds property from the legal owner without consent or reason. Read more...
 Shield Yourself From Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud is the act of creating a false representation of insurance policies, documentations and benefits for the offender to gain financially. Fraud schemes usually make up the faulty or nonexistent representation in order for policyholders or victims to rely and trust the offender into investing real assets. The offender obtains benefit or advantage which he is not legally entitled to. The offense is then classified as a misdemeanor or felony depending on severity. Read more...
 Involuntary Manslaughter - Almost Murder
Involuntary manslaughter is the act of killing another human person by doing an unlawful act which is not a felony or a lawful act done in a grossly negligent way. It is also known as criminally negligent homicide or culpable homicide. It counts as a homicide since there is no intention to kill or cause harm or presence of malice aforethought. The death of the other individual is due to recklessness or negligence but not necessarily disregard for human life. Read more...
 Youth Sex Trade: Penalizing Juvenile Pimping
Juvenile pimping is the act of any individual who receives any money, property, token, object, benefit, article or anything of value from a prostitute under the legal age of consent or from a prostitute who is an institutionalized severely or profoundly mentally retarded person, not for lawful consideration, knowing it was earned in whole or in part from the practice of prostitution. Read more...
 Liquor License Violation Defined
Liquor license violation is the illegal act of selling or purchasing alcohol due to failure to obtain a liquor license. Stores, restaurants and other business structures are required by federal and state laws to acquire a liquor license by filing an application indicating the clientele, types of alcohol intended to be sold and area where the selling will be done. On the other hand, clients or customers are also required to have an active legal license in order to purchase alcohol. Those who are not allowed to purchase must not violate laws and sellers must be strict in enforcing this. Read more...
 What is Malicious Mischief?
Malicious mischief is the act of intentionally destroying the personal property of another person due to resentment or ill will towards the owner. It is different from the usual damaging of private property since most cases are accidental or done at random. Malicious mischief includes the intent or plan of causing destruction to the property as a means of revenge, threat or blackmail to the owner. It is a criminal offense and classes are indicated depending on severity and intent. Read more...
 Mob Action - Strength In Unity?
Mob action is having two or more persons acting together to disturb the public peace. Mob action can also be defined as gathering of two or more persons to do an unlawful act. Last but not the least mob action is the assembly of two or more persons, without the authority of the law, to act against a person who is supposed to be guilty of violating a law. Putting the law into their hands and punishing the guilty. Read more...
 Don’t Get Duped: How To Deal With Nigerian Letter (419) Scams
True to its name, the Nigerian Letter Scam is a grand hoax commonly sent by a Nigerian national or anybody from West Africa to lure recipients into funneling huge sums of money as advanced payments for bogus reimbursements and providing personal account information for further milking.  Read more...
 Official Misconduct - When Public Officials Turn Bad
The definition of official misconduct is essentially the same in all states and countries. It is the willing and knowing abuse of power or refusal to perform duties by a government official, public head, or law enforcement officer, either for personal gain, to cause harm or injury to another, or to provide profits and gains for somebody else. Read more...
 Online Phishing And How It Happens
Online phishing is a way to get personal financial data, account numbers, user names and passwords from other people through the use of cleverly designed e-mails. These e-mails that appear to be official-looking, or e-mails that appear to be legitimate e-mails from large and familiar businesses, are in fact fake. This actually helps increase the level of identity theft crimes in the internet.  Read more...
 The Criminal Nature Of The Ponzi Scam
The infamous Ponzi Scam, named after its most popular perpetrator Charles Ponzi, is a scheme that aims to defraud people into investing huge sums of money into an operation or a business, under the promise of around 50% interest that is collectible after only a short period of time (usually a month). The gist is that people are often told that the money will be invested into some ambiguous and huge sounding venture, like hedge funds or securities, when, in fact, no such investment exists.  Read more...
 What Is Public Peace Violation? Definition And Penalties
Public peace violation is the act of disturbing events that originally were in order in a public area. The offense can be considered as a misdemeanor, infraction or crime depending on the statutes and nature of the act. Individuals held in breach of the peace will not be considered involved in a criminal act. This is to help the individual successfully deal with authorities as well as maintain good reputation for future employment. Read more...
 The Criminal Nature Of The Pyramid Scam: Don’t Be A Victim
A pyramid scam is an unsustainable and fraudulent system wherein the victims pay to join a system that usually offers no product to be delivered. If there is a product that its members have paid to receive, only a fraction of them ever receive it. People are promised money for being able to enroll other people into the scheme, thereby increasing the number of members, or victims, of the system.  Read more...
 Reckless Endangerment: How Being Imprudent Can Make You A Criminal
Reckless endangerment is one of the subclasses of endangerment that pertains to the conduct of a certain individual that poses a major risk of death or physical injury to another.  Read more...
 Does Refusing To Aid An Officer Make You A Criminal?
Sometimes, deciding to 'mind your own business' and refusing to help an officer in need can land you in jail.  Read more...
 Why Resisting Arrest Is A Crime
Resisting arrest is the act of intentionally and willfully opposing or resisting any law enforcement officer in serving, executing or attempting to serve or execute any legal writ or process or resisting any lawful arrest, whether under process or not. It is a criminal offense of eluding a law enforcement officer who is attempting to arrest an individual, using or threatening to use force against a law enforcement officer during an arrest or providing an officer with false identification in order to elude arrest. Read more...
 What is Second Degree Murder?
Second degree murder is the act of intentionally killing a human person without the presence of premeditation or planning. Second degree murder is not caused by dangerous conduct or the perpetrator’s lack of concern for human life. It is less serious than first degree murder but more serious than voluntary manslaughter. Read more...
 Sending Unsolicited Email Is A Crime: Why Spammers Are Our Enemy
Spamming is a term used to refer to unsolicited or unwarranted mail (snail, fax, or electronic). Email spam, probably the most widespread of  spam cases worldwide, springs from the desire of certain individuals and companies to promote products or services via least-cost means or to simply steal PC information and wreak havoc on Internet users’ online lives.  Read more...
 The Spanish Lottery Scam
The Spanish Lottery Scam, also dubbed as the “El Gordo” scam, or some other Spanish sounding name, poses itself as an international lottery. The victim is informed, either by mail or fax, that he or she has won huge sums of money in a sweepstakes in Spain. At first look, individuals desperate for a quick fix would find this appealing and might bite into it. However, when people start to think about how they had won in a lottery in Spain, the questions on its veracity begin to fly.  Read more...
 Identifying The Crime That Is Tax Evasion
What is tax evasion? Tax evasion is the illegal act of avoiding or defeating any imposed tax due to the individual. State laws clearly define the act being criminal in nature. Illegal means are used by individuals, agencies and other bodies in order to evade taxes. Usual schemes are taxpayers who intentionally provide false representations which deter from a statement of fact or conceal a statement of fact which shows the actual state of their financial state. The false representations then allow tax authorities to give deductions from the overall sum.  Read more...
 Rings And Phone Pranks: Telephone Threats Are Criminal
According to the law, a threat is defined as words, written or spoken, whose purpose is to intimidate other persons. Threats are often used to gain advantage over a person or situation or sometimes threats are used to make a person do something even if it is against his or her own will. Threatening to use a weapon on a person, threatening to injure a person or a person’s property and threatening to injure a person’s reputation are considered offenses in all states. Read more...
 Why Trademark Counterfeiting Is A Crime: Basic Concepts
Trademark counterfeiting refers to the act of knowingly selling, using, manufacturing, distributing, advertising and patronizing services and items that bear counterfeit logos or marks. Simply put, if you are sporting a Chanel bag, for instance, which you bought at a rock-bottom price from a traveling “salesman” with the knowledge of its nature as an imitation/counterfeit good, you are guilty of trademark counterfeiting. In fact, in some states, any person who has 25 or more counterfeit goods in possession, he or she will be automatically held guilty of intent to sell or distribute fake items. Read more...
 Voyeurism: Peeping Toms Go to Jail!
Voyeurism is the act of deriving sexual pleasure from unlawfully observing other individuals. The offender views, observes, spies upon or invades the privacy of the victim by looking through doors, windows and other openings of a private property without due consent from the victim who has reasonable expectation of privacy for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of the offender. The victim may indulge in sexually illicit activities, nude or partly nude or dressed in a fashion which the offender finds arousing. Read more...
 Weapons Violation: How Is It A Crime?
Weapons violation is the act of illegally housing, possessing, brandishing, trading, selling, exchanging or purchasing tools that can imminently cause harm or death to other individuals. Weapons are defined as any tool or material that is potentially hazardous to the physical welfare of other individuals beyond the scope of providing self-defense to the bearer such as machine guns, bombs, grenades and the like.  Read more...
 Understanding The Criminal Nature Of Wire Fraud
One early morning, your phone rings. You pick up the phone to answer the call and the person on the other end of the line sounds like one of those telemarketers you get every once in a while. No harm, you think. He keeps talking and talking while you wait for an opening to decline his offer.  Read more...