Burglary

What is burglary?
Burglary is the act of breaking and entering into a building with the intentions of stealing property. Burglary can be classified as either a felony or misdemeanor offense with the punishments ranging from prison time to informal probation with permanent marks on your criminal record.

Elements of the crime
It is important to remember that every state has its own laws governing the specifics of burglary, but there are some common factors that are consistent in most states. In order to prove burglary, the following elements are generally required:

Illegal entry into a building without consent
Commit a crime, or intent to commit a crime

If convicted
If you are convicted of burglary, you might be subject to the following:

Jail or prison sentence, probation, or parole
Fines
Mandatory classes
Permanent record

Factors affecting sentence

Severity of the offense
Prior convictions
Injuries caused as a result the offense
Current probation or parole status

Civil consequences
On the civil side, if you are found to be liable for your actions, you may have to pay for damages to any victims for:

Property damages or losses
Punitive damages

In all burglary matters, it is recommended that you seek professional legal assistance to protect your interests. A lawyer who has experience in this area of law can give legal advice that will assist you with the matter and will ensure that the judicial process is properly followed.