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What is a Crime of Moral Turpitude?
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A crime of moral turpitude is not a specific charge. Rather, it is a category of offenses that are characterized by their basis in immoral intent. Crimes of moral turpitude can be misdemeanor or felony-level offenses. For a US citizen, conviction of this type of offense can result in fines and jail time. For a lawful permanent resident or an individual in the country on a visa, it can result in removal from the United States.
If you are a non-citizen facing a criminal charge, it is important that you work with a lawyer who not only understands the criminal justice process, but has experience defending immigrants who are facing removal actions.
Violent, Depraved Offenses are Crimes of Moral Turpitude
The term “crime of moral turpitude” is defined as an offense that “ shocks the public conscience as being inherently base, vile, or depraved, contrary to the rules of morality and the duties owed between man and man, either one’s fellow man or society in general,” according to the Board of Immigration Appeals. This is a subjective definition, which can mean that a specific offense may be defined by one judge as a crime of moral turpitude while another judge would not deem it to be so. A few examples of offenses that could be considered to be crimes of moral turpitude include:
- Fraud;
- Robbery;
- Kidnapping;
- Manslaughter;
- Conspiracy;
- Domestic violence;
- Murder;
- Sexual assault;
- Aggravated assault; and
- Theft offenses.
The key to defining an offense as a crime of moral turpitude is determining whether the offender acted with “evil intent.” If the court cannot prove that the defendant acted in an intentionally vile, depraved, or otherwise cruel manner, it may not find him or her to be guilty of a crime of moral turpitude. The lack of such evidence can keep an individual in the country, even if he or she is convicted of a criminal offense.
Deportation as a Penalty for a Crime of Moral Turpitude Conviction
When an individual is deported for a conviction of a crime of moral turpitude, he or she can be prevented from reentering the United States for anywhere from five to 20 years. In many cases, individuals are banned from reentering the country for life. This can put strains on their families and communities.
Work with an Experienced Chicago Immigration Lawyer
If you are charged with a crime of moral turpitude, you could be facing removal from the United States. Work with an experienced immigration lawyer to determine the right strategy for your case, because you are not only dealing with criminal law, but with immigration law. Contact our team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC today to schedule your initial consultation in our office.
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I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
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The attorney is an excellent person and very professional. I am very grateful to the entire team—they are attentive to everything, and I consider her the best in all of the U.S. Thank you once again for everything.
Mr. Burton helped my mother with her case. He was always polite, clear, and always answered my questions in a professional and diligent manner. Our case ran smoothly, and we never ran into any issues. I also want to greatly thank the paralegal that also managed my case, Stephanie Nunez, she was always willing and very helpful with my mother, a genuinely good person. I will forever recommend Justin and…
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Justin Burton! He is an outstanding specialist in his field and an attorney who quite literally changed our family’s life. Mr. Burton demonstrated a highly professional approach and exceptional dedication to our case. He stands out for his extensive knowledge of immigration law and, beyond that, is a person of great integrity. I can wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Justin Burton and…
I would like to start this review with a big thank you for the immigration lawyer, Nicole Provax, who has done a successful and amazing work on my dad’s case! She was dedicated in walking us through the whole process, keeping excellent communication with us, and despite the little hurdles that came up along the way, she was able to get the case to continue progressing! I’m forever grateful of…
I had the pleasure of having Brittni Rivera as our attorney working on our immigration green card process for my Husband and I .... from beginning to the end.. the best most professional guidance you could ask for. I highly recommend her ... and Donald Rogers too.. thanks again for all your help.
We had the pleasure of having Justin Burton on my parents case. From the moment we reached out, his staff was incredibly welcoming and took the time to really listen to our concerns. We never felt rushed or like just another case, Justin made sure we understood every step of the process and answered all our questions with patience and clarity. What really impressed us was how Justin and staff…
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