Penalties, Rulings, and Laws Involving Armed Robbery?

Answer 1

The fantasizing of armed robbery runs deep within American history. Unfortunately, this idealized concept is in fact a very dangerous situation with potentially deadly outcomes for all parties involved. Whether one is a witness, on a jury, or being accused of armed robbery, there are a few facts that should be studied closely on this potential felony.

The first thing to keep in mind is that all states do not actually recognize the felony charge known as armed robbery. Generally this term is used for any forcible theft in which a firearm is shown, displayed, and sometimes even just present. The firearm does not need to harm anyone or even be discharged. Instead, all it takes is the presence of a firearm during the robbery. Many states include any sort of deadly item or explosive in these rules as well. This may include anything from a knife to a Baseball bat. In each of these instances, the preferred nomenclature is aggravated robbery, which signifies that a weapon was used or brandished during the robbery.

The severity of this crime generally requires a full trial by jury with serious consequences. The common penalty will be a mixture of both fines and jail time. While first time offenders will not likely be given a maximum sentence, repeat offenders may encounter the full penalty. If injury happens to any victims or bystanders the penalties and jail time may increase exponentially, up to a death sentence. A few traditional penalties for armed robbery include 15 years of jail time, fines of up to $20,000, and a mixture of probation or electronic monitoring.

The judge and/or jury will take mitigating and aggravating factors into consideration that could have taken place during the crime. With the deadly nature of the crime, even first time offenders may find themselves with steep fines and jail time, but extenuating circumstances will be a part of the sentencing process. Repeat offenders rarely find leniency when facing similar charges. Accessory to armed robbery is another possible scenario in which defendants may find themselves. These are people who helped or had knowledge of the robbery at any time and did not report it.

This is one of the most severe non-injury crimes that can be taken to trial. Because of this severity, all parties involved should seek immediate professional legal counsel in order to facilitate fair and expedited trial.