The holiday season is supposed to bring peace, joy and goodwill to man and woman, but that’s not always the case, because it also brings an increased number of criminal matters to the courts.
Some of these criminal offenses are triggered by what happens during the holidays, namely more people out shopping, and more festivities that involve alcohol and drugs.
The holiday season used to be from Thanksgiving through New Year’s day. Now holidays include President’s weekend, MLK weekend, Easter, NCAA playoffs, any major sporting event, Memorial day, Fourth of July and Labor day…. The list increases every year! But the three major types of criminal charges filed stay the same.
Let’s take a look at the top three types of arrests during all of the holidays and why they are more common during this season. Below are some facts and figures for just the winter holidays. There is little if any let up for the rest of the year’s holidays.
Common Arrests During the Holidays
Crime doesn’t stop during the holidays. The season is notable for a spike in crimes that are directly related to what’s happening from November to early January.
Common arrests during the holiday season include:
DUI – Driving under the influence spikes during the holiday season because so many more people attend parties, drink to excess and choose to operate motor vehicles. In fact, there were 629 DUI arrests over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Pennsylvania in 2017, an increase of 19 arrests from 2016.
Theft and Retail Theft– During the holiday season, malls are packed with shoppers who are buying gifts for friends and loved ones, which means huge opportunities for thieves. Thieves can attempt to pickpocket shoppers or steal valuable items out of vehicles. There are also higher incidences of home burglaries during the holidays, as enterprising criminals realize that families are more likely to have valuable gifts in plain sight. Thieves also target homes that receive packages during the holidays, especially when delivery agents leave those packages outside a person’s door.
Domestic Violence – Arrests for domestic violence tend to increase during the holidays for several reasons, including greater consumption of alcohol, and the financial pressures some men and women feel to provide their family with gifts that they can’t afford. In addition, child custody disagreements can trigger violence between former spouses and between people who were once in a romantic relationship. People also tend to experience a higher sense of loss and grief over situations in their lives during the holiday season, and they may express those emotions in ways that land them in jail for assault.
The Importance of An Aggressive Criminal Defense
When you are arrested on a criminal charge, regardless of whether the arrest occurred during the holidays or any other holiday time of year, you must hire an experienced lawyer. Misdemeanor and or Felony charges can lead to jail time, hefty fines and other penalties that can horribly alter your life. But a defense lawyer who has the resources to investigate every detail of your arrest and challenge every piece of evidence the prosecutor will use in a trial can protect your rights. This can include proving that the state lacks the evidence to proceed to trial – resulting in a dismissal – or it can include negotiations for reduced charges and a plea bargain. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start to mitigate the danger to you.
The Law Offices of Seven F. O’Meara has more than 25 years of experience mounting aggressive defenses for our many clients. Please contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
