Criminal Defense FAQ

Wouldn't longer sentences mean less overall crime?
Is there a way to punish a criminal before he actually commits the crime he is planning?
Are all illegal drugs treated equally when it comes to punishing drug dealers?
Can a person be guilty of drunk driving if he has had only one drink?
What is the role of the federal government in criminal law?
Are grand jury proceedings secret?
Are there special crimes to control children's behavior?
What is the difference between probation and parole?
How does a assistant state attorney decide which criminals to charge?
Is driving over the speed limit a crime?
Can only businesspersons be charged with white-collar crimes?

Can only businesspersons be charged with white-collar crimes?
Historically, white-collar crime focused on the status of the offenders when it identified them as professionals or businesspersons. However, the current definition of white-collar crime focuses on the actions committed, not on the vocation of the offender. White-collar crime is defined as using illegal acts involving deceit to obtain property or services, or to gain a business or professional advantage. Examples of cases involving crimes not traditionally thought to be white-collar crimes would include drug dealers charged with mail fraud when they delivered controlled substances through the mail, and a printer convicted of securities fraud when he used information he obtained in the course of printing corporate documents to gain an advantage in the stock market.

The RICO Act is generally thought of as a white-collar crime prevention statute. The Act punishes anyone who engages in a pattern of racketeering to generate income to buy a business or to conduct a business. The pattern of racketeering refers to at least two criminal acts listed in the statute that have a relationship to each other and occur within ten years of each other. Originally passed to control organized crime, RICO has also been applied to drug dealers and to other non-organized crime defendants.