Most people charged with property crimes in Wisconsin are not career criminals. Many are college students, young adults, or people who have never been in trouble before. Sometimes the crime stems from a stupid decision at a party. Sometimes it is a misunderstanding between friends. Sometimes it is a prank that went too far.

If you are a parent reading this, you may be panicked and confused. If you are a young adult reading this, you may be scared and embarrassed. These reactions are normal. Many property crimes are charged against people who never meant to cause harm and sometimes didn’t even know they were committing a crime. Nevertheless, these cases matter, and they need to be taken seriously.

Data from the National Conference of State Legislatures suggests that roughly one in three adults in the United States will be arrested or charged with a crime at some point in their lives. Most of those people are not violent offenders. Many are first-time defendants facing property charges. If you find yourself unexpectedly belonging to this group, don’t panic. Instead, contact a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP so we can explain your options.