The Most Common Crimes in Georgia and the Consequences

Some seismic changes have affected law enforcement in recent years, such as the controversial deaths of George Floyd, and here in Georgia, Rayshard Brooks and Ahmaud Arbery. The face of law enforcement has shifted in response, at least in many areas. Still, the list of the most common crimes committed in Georgia has remained essentially unchanged for decades.

The need for a Norcross criminal defense lawyer has not changed either. While court-appointed lawyers or public defenders sometimes handle cases effectively, the process is often hit-or-miss. Defendants who partner with private attorneys typically have more control over their cases and a much better chance of avoiding the full brunt of the law.

DUI Charges in Georgia

Until 2020, Georgia’s decades-long crackdown on drunk driving appeared to be working. Tougher laws, stricter penalties, and new enforcement tools reduced the number of DUI cases across the state.

The pandemic reversed that trend. Once traffic enforcement slowed, DUI arrests climbed again. Like many bad habits, drinking and driving proved easy to form and hard to break.

The harsh penalties remain in place. A first-time DUI can cost more than $10,000, not including collateral consequences like license suspension and higher insurance rates. Fortunately, DUI cases are defensible. Issues with breath test refusals, questionable field sobriety tests, and other legal defenses can make these charges easier to fight.

Assault and Family Violence Offenses

The increase in alcohol consumption also led to more assaults. Alcohol impairs judgment, and impaired judgment often results in poor decisions.

Most assault charges in Georgia involve family violence. These cases often carry additional criminal penalties and collateral consequences, such as protective orders (TPOs) or negative effects on child custody disputes.

Defenses are available. Alleged victims cannot simply “drop” charges, but prosecutors often struggle to prove their cases without reliable testimony. Many alleged victims are unreliable because of personal grudges or because they were intoxicated themselves. In such cases, a strong defense attorney can expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Drug possession charges make up more than 80% of all drug-related arrests in Georgia. Among these, possession of marijuana (POM) remains one of the most common, though the laws surrounding marijuana have grown more complicated in recent years.

Prosecutors must still prove more than just physical proximity. They must show that the defendant had both knowledge of the substance and control over it. For example, if police find marijuana under a chair at a party, the person sitting there may not legally be considered in possession if they were unaware of it.

Another complication is the rise of legal hemp. Hemp and marijuana are nearly indistinguishable by look or smell. To prove a case, prosecutors typically need costly lab tests to determine THC content. Without this evidence, a conviction can be much harder to secure.

Work With a Dedicated Gwinnett County Criminal Defense Attorney

Common crimes in Georgia include DUI, assault, and drug possession. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal law attorney in Norcross, contact Zimmerman & Associates, Attorneys at Law.