Each year thousands of people are arrested for committing alleged crimes against people, crimes against property, and crimes against society. Fairfax County is no exception. Below, we will look at how often people are charged with various offenses and what you should do if you are arrested for any crime in Fairfax County or elsewhere in Northern Virginia.
Crimes Against People
The Commonwealth of Virginia reported more than 8,000 crimes against persons in Fairfax County during 2020. Crimes against a person involve harm or the threat of harm to an individual.
Simple assault was the only crime with more than 1,000 offenses reported. Several crimes had more than one 100 offenses reported, including:
- Intimidation
- Aggravated Assault
- Kidnapping or Abduction
- Forcible Rape
- Forcible Fondling
Other offenses with fewer than 100 incidents reported included:
- Murder or Non-Negligent Manslaughter
- Negligent Manslaughter
- Forcible Sodomy
- Sexual Assault with an Object
- Incest
- Statutory Rape
- Human Trafficking Commercial Sex Acts
Crimes Against Property
The greatest number of 2020 Fairfax County criminal offenses were crimes against property. A crime against property involves the theft or destruction of property that you do not own. More than 24,000 offenses were reported in this category.
The most common offense was destruction, damage, and vandalism. However, several other crimes also had more than 1,000 offenses reported in a single year. These crimes include:
- False Pretenses, Swindle, Confidence Games
- Impersonation
- Shoplifting
- Theft From Building
- Theft From Motor Vehicle
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- All Other Larceny
Many other crimes had more than 100 offenses reported. These crimes include:
- Burglary and Breaking and Entering
- Counterfeiting and Forgery
- Embezzlement
- Extortion or Blackmail
- Credit Card and Automatic Teller Fraud
- Robbery
- Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts or Accessories
Still, other crimes had fewer than 100 offenses reported, such as:
- Arson
- Bribery
- Wire Fraud
- Identity Theft
- Pocket Picking
- Purse Snatching
- Theft From Coin Operated Machine or Device
- Stolen Property Offenses
Crimes Against Society
More than 4,000 other Fairfax County offenses were classified as crimes against society during 2020. A crime against society disrupts or harms the community rather than a specific individual (though the crime may also harm individuals).
The most common crime in this category was drug or narcotic violations. The other crimes included:
- Drug Equipment Violations
- Pornography and Obscene Material
- Prostitution
- Assisting or Promoting Prostitution
- Weapon Law Violations
- Animal Cruelty
What to Do If You’re Arrested in Fairfax County, Virginia
An arrest is not a conviction. If you have been charged with any of the crimes listed above, now is the time to begin protecting your legal rights.
You could face significant jail time, fines, and a permanent criminal record if your arrest leads to a conviction. Our experienced Fairfax criminal defense attorneys are here to make sure that all of your rights are protected and that you are treated fairly throughout the criminal process.
We have more than 80 years of combined trial experience, we are not afraid to take on challenging cases, and we handle all types of criminal matters. Our attorneys cannot promise you any specific outcome in your case, but we can promise you that we will always be honest with you and provide you with a realistic view of your case while we fight for the best possible outcome.
Right now, things may be overwhelming. You may not know how to interact with the police or protect your rights. While you should always be polite to the police and never obstruct a lawful investigation, we encourage you to exercise your constitutional rights to remain silent and seek counsel.
Once you hire our experienced criminal defense team, we will do everything possible to make sure that your rights are protected and that you are treated fairly. You won’t have to wonder if you are doing the right thing.
Please contact us as soon as possible for a free consultation. We welcome your call before or after an arrest in Fairfax County or anywhere else in Northern Virginia.
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