Burglary is a criminal offense in the United States, although some states allow significant adjustments depending on the circumstances. Penalties and sentences for this crime vary and may include substantial payments, life imprisonment, community service, and restitution. It is appropriate to apply different penalties to people because of differences in age and prior offenses in the case at hand.
The lack of prior offenses is a mitigating factor but not exempt from liability. The case will be treated as a crime, not the highest gravity. However, if the damaged property is expensive or the plaintiff provides substantial evidence of a motive for the crime, the punishment will be more severe. Due to this, it is appropriate for a person who is 24 years old to apply a mitigating punishment and be limited to community service or a non-long term of imprisonment. He must also pay a fine in the amount of the stolen or damaged property and pay restitution – an amount to make up for the loss due to the burglary. In addition, juvenile law may apply to this person because the crime would not be considered a grave crime, and the age is no older than 24.
For older people, the punishment would be more significant because they already have a history of criminal records. In addition, that person will be punished to the fullest extent because they do not fall into the juvenile category. If proven guilty and significant damage to the plaintiff’s property is established, that person could face a hefty prison sentence. In some states, burglary can be punishable by up to life in prison, so having a vital attorney for the accused will be necessary. Thus, their punishment will most likely include jail time, fines, and restitution. After serving his sentence, the defendant will have to pay additional taxes, probably be prohibited from buying and keeping weapons, and be subject to other background checks. In this case, the deciding factors are age, criminal history, and the severity of the crime.