In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Criminal Law A to Z
In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Crimes by NRS Section
Every crime in Nevada is based in a section of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). For each crime, our attorneys explain the laws, penalties and best defenses to fight the charge.
Nevada DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Nevada DUI Laws to learn more.
Post-Conviction
Even if you’ve already been convicted of a crime, there is still much you can do to seal your record and restore your rights. Our attorneys explain how.
Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
And we do not handle any cases outside of California.
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Each of these types of first-degree murder carries the death penalty as a possible punishment only if any aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors. Otherwise, the court may impose either:
The primary definition of first-degree murder is a killing that is perpetrated by means of either:
Note that a person does not have to plan for a long time to kill someone in order to be convicted of premeditated killing. A split-second but conscious decision to kill someone qualifies as first-degree murder. In contrast, killing someone in a sudden heat of passion is the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter in Nevada, which does not carry the death penalty.
Another common type of first-degree murder is “felony murder in Nevada.” This comprises any killing committed in perpetration (or attempted perpetration) of either of the following felonies:
It does not matter if the suspect had no intention to kill anyone before committing the underlying felony: A person can still be convicted of first-degree murder if he/she ends up killing someone in the perpetration of one of the above felony offenses.
The third type of first-degree murder is when someone kills in order to either:
In other words, first-degree murder comprises a killing done while trying to escape arrest or incarceration. A suspect can still be convicted of first-degree murder even if he/she intended to avoid arrest or escape jail, prison, or other legal custody without hurting anyone.
The fourth type of first-degree murder is a killing committed by a person who intended to create a great risk of death or substantial bodily harm to more than one person by means of a hazardous weapon, device, or course of action:
An example would be a death(s) caused by unleashing gunfire or detonating a bomb at a pep rally.
The final type of first-degree murder is a killing committed in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of an act of terrorism.
A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.