Defending theft crimes - a look beyond the legal system

Successful defense of theft crimes must address both criminal consequences and underlying motives.

2013-03-23

March 23, 2013 (Press-News.org) Defending theft crimes - a look beyond the legal system

Theft crimes often have a mental health connection. Studies have shown that addictive/compulsive behaviors like those present in substance abuse cases are often seen in those who compulsively commit theft crimes such as shoplifting. For others, there may be some traumatic event that contributes to the urge to steal. Recognizing that theft is not just a legal issue changes the focus to a holistic approach in the defense of this criminal charge.

Competing considerations

Obviously, anyone facing theft charges is concerned about mounting an aggressive defense to minimize the legal consequences that are possible following an arrest. That is where the assistance of a criminal defense attorney is critical. A lawyer has the knowledge and skill necessary to protect your legal rights and the ability to vigorously fight criminal charges. The legal considerations - if considered by themselves - can be adequately handled by most criminal attorneys.

Where some criminal attorneys fail their clients is by not examining the motives, needs or underlying issues that might have provoked the client to commit the crime.

For example, most individuals who shoplift don't do it because they are financially destitute. Often theft or embezzlement crimes are necessitated by underlying feelings of inadequacy, anger, stress or anxiety. The crime is not committed because of an unfulfilled material need. A defense approach that only addresses the legal consequences is an incomplete one. The underlying issues that contributed to the criminal act will continue long after the criminal case is concluded. If the underlying issues aren't addressed, the likelihood of future offenses is much greater.

On the other hand, if only the mental health issues are examined, then the unaddressed criminal consequences could overshadow any treatment progress that is accomplished.

Thinking holistically

An approach that addresses both the legal consequences flowing from an arrest and exploring the mental health contributors that led to the theft is critical. This approach will not only serve a client in the short-term (reduced consequences for the illegal behavior), but will also put the client in the best position to avoid future legal issues. By helping the client get the mental health treatment that explains what causes him or her to shoplift, an attorney can offer the difference between a bright future for his client rather than one marred by repeated run-ins with the criminal justice system.

Are you facing charges for shoplifting or another type of theft charge? Do you want to increase your chances of a successful defense that both helps minimize legal consequences and gets you the help you need? Speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney in your area for more information about your legal rights and options you may have.

Article provided by David H. Johnson, Attorney at Law
Visit us at www.fortcollinsjustice.com/

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

When prescription medicine hurts instead of helps the patient

2013-03-23

When prescription medicine hurts instead of helps the patient Doctors, nurses, hospitals and pharmacists have the duty to see that medication is prescribed carefully and appropriately, filled accurately and administered correctly. The stakes couldn't be higher: prescription mistakes can cause injury, death and addiction. Medical professionals are expected to adhere to the reasonable standards and practices of others within in their specialties in their communities. Failure to do so may open them up to medical malpractice liability. Patient screening In contemplation ...

No criminal charges in fatal ski collision, prosecutors say

2013-03-23

No criminal charges in fatal ski collision, prosecutors say A Colorado ski trip took a deadly turn recently when two skiers collided on Aspen Mountain. After an investigation of the incident, prosecutors have decided not to press criminal charges against the surviving skier, CBS News reported. The collision occurred on February 4, 2013, when a 48-year-old woman was struck by another skier while standing on lower Spar Gulch, the mountain's main run. The woman had reportedly come to a stop after skiing down an expert trail when she was struck by another skier who merged ...

Studies show head injuries more serious than suspected

2013-03-23

Studies show head injuries more serious than suspected According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.7 million people in the U.S. suffer traumatic brain injuries each year. Medical professionals classify TBI as an acquired form of brain damage where sudden trauma to the head causes damage to the brain. TBI can range from mild, such as when people get struck in the head and sustain a momentary loss of consciousness, to severe injuries where an object pierces the skull and penetrates brain tissue. Three studies published in March 2013 reveal that ...

Switch And Save On Energy Bills With Comparethemarket.com

2013-03-23

With 1 in 5 households in Britain spending more than 10% of their income on gas and electricity according to new research, many consumers are looking for ways to make savings on their utility bills . Using a price comparison site such as comparethemarket.com is one way of making sure you have the most affordable deal on the market. Russell Davis, Director of Utilities at comparethemarket.com explains: "With gas and electricity bills taking up a significant percentage of household income for so many people, making a saving can make a big difference to the household ...

Online Pawnshop PawnUp.com is Increasing their List of Accepted Items - Again

2013-03-23

"It is not a secret that many online pawn stores keep on limiting the list of valuables they accept. The reasoning behind this business model, I believe, is their inability to move these types of items and or make big profits on them. Here, at PawnUp.com, we want to make a difference and help more people get more cash for their items as often as possible. For these reasons, we decided to increase our list of accepted items again." - said Jay Martin, a spokesperson for PawnUp.com. Online pawnshop PawnUp.com has helped thousands of people to get cash for their ...

Health care quality measurement for doctors' offices needs improvement

2013-03-22

NEW YORK (March 21, 2013) -- In its 2001 report Crossing the Quality Chasm, the Institute of Medicine outlined six domains of quality in medical care: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency and equity. But, Dr. Tara Bishop writes in a new viewpoint article published online March 21, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), current quality measures for the outpatient setting do not include all of these domains. As a result, quality measurement and quality improvement efforts in the outpatient setting have neglected critical ...

UC Davis study calls for research on the efficacy and safety of vena cava filters

2013-03-22

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) —An evaluation of practice patterns in California hospitals showed a large variation in the use of metal devices called inferior vena cava filters, or VCFs, despite little evidence of their safety and effectiveness. Led by UC Davis physicians, the study demonstrated that hospital rather than patient characteristics best predict VCF use. Patients in larger, urban and private hospitals with more than 400 beds were most likely to be treated with one of the metal devices, which are placed intravenously to prevent pulmonary embolism, a serious and often ...

Study shows that blocking an inflammation pathway prevents cardiac fibrosis

2013-03-22

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) —New research from UC Davis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that blocking an enzyme that promotes inflammation can prevent the tissue damage following a heart attack that often leads to heart failure. Led by Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, cardiologist and professor of internal medicine, a team of researchers tested a compound that inhibits the enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase -- or sEH -- one of the key players in the robust immune-system response that heals tissue following an injury. The enzyme, however, can become ...

UCLA, Caltech research on immune-cell therapy could strengthen promising melanoma treatment

2013-03-22

A new study of genetically modified immune cells by scientists from UCLA and the California Institute of Technology could help improve a promising treatment for melanoma, an often fatal form of skin cancer. The research, which appears March 21 in the advance online edition of the journal Cancer Discovery, was led by James Heath, a member of UCLA's Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Heath is a professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at UCLA and also holds the Elizabeth W. ...

Mapping blank spots in the cheeseboard maze

2013-03-22

This press release is available in German. During spatial learning, space is represented in the hippocampus through plastic changes in the connections between neurons. Jozsef Csicsvari and his collaborators investigate spatial learning in rats using the cheeseboard maze apparatus. This apparatus contains many holes, some of which are selected to hide food in order to test spatial memory. During learning trials, animals learn where the rewards are located, and after a period sleep, the researchers test whether the animal can recall these reward locations. In previous ...

Defending theft crimes - a look beyond the legal system

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: