Are there gentler penalties for crimes of passion?  Example: if you catch your boyfriend/girlfriend cheating on you, and then destroy their stuff (like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have promoted in songs) or steal and spend their money (Blu Cantrell), will you be punished?  These acts are promoted by celebrities, so what kind of consequences are there?
125974
The crime of passion defense was romanticized in literature and film but in practice was never much of a defense legally.
198472
Technically, an affair 'outside the confines of a state sanctioned marriage' is a tort HOWEVER, sex between consenting adults WHO are not married is considered fornication and there are still quite a few states that maintain laws against such behavior.  As far a a tort, the offending spouse and paramour can be sued for divorce and alienation of affection (respectively) in many states that require 'cause' for divorce.  As far as a circumstance for 'excusing' murder, I have seen it used as an affirmative defense, it historically was referred to as 'provocation'  (see this link as it gives a pretty good history/description of the concept http://www.zerotolerance.ca/2_provocation_def.htm)  However, this doesn't fly much anymore with juries primarily, since women aren't considered 'property' as they once were!\n\nYou might find the study by a UT prof interesting... "In Buss’s sample of 429,729 homicide FBI files, 13,670 were cases in which a husband killed his wife. A husband discovering his wife having an extramarital affair is one of the leading causes of women being murdered, particularly when the woman is dramatically younger than her husband. This leads to a disturbing theory—the more good-looking, healthy and fertile the woman, the more motivated the man will be to kill her upon discovering a sexual infidelity."
231033
As long as you did not have sex with someone under 18, if you are over 18 and you are just going out with that person, you could not be charged with a crime as long as the minor with you was not with you against his or her wishes. If the minor was under duress, you could be charged with kidnapping.  If you had sex, you could be charged with statutory rape.
283200
I think it depends on the crime, and the effect the cheering has. I dont think that if you cheer on a drug dealer while they put him in the car, but you dont cause any property damage and you dont try to impead the arrest and you remain non-violent, that they are gonna charge you with inciteing a riot. If there was no riot you could not have incited it.
300723
HERE'S WHAT WENT DOWN. NICK HAD A GIRLFRIEND BEFORE HE HOOKED UP WITH CHRISTINA. WELL CHRISTINE DIDN'T CARE AND STOLE HIM FROM HIS GIRLFRIEND.  THEN WHILE NICK AND CHRISTINA WERE DATING, HE SPEND IN UPWARDS OF 2 MILLION DOLLARS ON HER. SHE CHEATED ON HIM. HE CHEATED ON HER, AND SHE BROKE INTO HIS BLACKBERRY READING HIS TEXTS MESSAGES FROM OTHER GIRLS. SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. THEY CHEATED ON EACH OTHER.
47745
If someone is dumb enough to brag on TV or in a blog that they download pirated music, then their statements can be used against them in court.  It would also be enough for prosecutors to get a search warrant to search the person's home and computer to gather additional evidence for possibly prosecution.  It would be enough evidence for the recording industry to file a lawsuit and make the same demands to inspect the ocmputer for further evidence.
438000
Let's take robbery.  You take something from someone else that doesn't belong to you.  It is a crime because you are violating someone else.  That is against our moral code.  When you break moral code there is a chance that your government has passed a law saying that it is illegal to do so.  The laws are in place so that everybody doesn't go around violating others.  The punishment is set by standards of society.  It is also set by what the perpetrator has done in his past (aka prior record).  That determines the sentence for the crime.  The punishment should be putting that person in a place where they have to reflect upon their crime and find the wrong in what they did so that hopefully they will never do it again.\nI hope that answers you question.
612986
Courts sentence offenders after they are found guilty.\n\nOfficers do not punish anyone, they record information, file the complaint & paperwork and turn it over to the District Attorney's office for prosecution.\n\nShoplifting is usually considered a minor offense and will most likely result in a fine & probation.
674260
Stealing is stealing no matter how big or small. You can go to jail for it. I suggest you find some honest friends because Ivana is headed down the wrong path.\n\nI am glad you know right from wrong. Keep up the good work. Honesty is the best policy.\n\nG.G.
489221
Would you trust the word of someone who is a self confessed paedophile? In the UK we used to have a free magazine called "Making Music", given away in guitar/music stores. The December 2000 issue had an interview with Moby. He said that "artists" such as himself and Gary Glitter should have free and unrestricted access to paedophilic pornography, as "artists" would be able to judge the images on their "artistic merits".  If you want to listen to this individual, you are listening to a paedophile!
6527
It depends on the state, but it is usually a misdemeanor.  I've included a couple of definition links below.\n\nEDIT: I see the previous poster has taken a fancy to copying my links....
511370
Oh yes !!!!! Do the crime do the time ........................... you could set up different punishments for different crimes ..... Theft ..... once - one hand off ..... twice - other hand off (wouldn't do it again) Think about rape !!!!!!!
76029
Songs don't directly hurt anyone. I guess they fall under freedom of speech. Spanking a child, even though I think it's sometimes necessary, is hurting someone.\nI guess that's how the law might see it.
590233
Repeat business is important to everyone. Unethical business practices means no clientelle base. It could also mean jail time.
77326
Usually a sexual offense.  Have you been arrested for taking advantage of people?
49077
What book are you referring to?  Have you heard of California's "3-strikes" law? It's when a felon who's been convicted of 2 felonies is arrested and convicted for a 3rd felony. That felon is then sentenced to life in prison for being a repeat felony offender. Sound harsh? Read up on it more in your search engine, under "3-strikes law". \nPretty intersting stuff, and there's discussions on both sides of the topic.
52347
Hi Mitzi-\nI'm very familiar with PA law.  The theft is going to be based upon the amount involved.  I can almost guarantee that there will have to be restitution.  Sentencing depends on the person's past criminal history (if any), the facts of the case...if it was particularly heinous and the victims involved, etc. and the amount of cash or items taken.