Criminal Damage (§ 303 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense
In brief: Criminal damage under § 303 StGB – the unlawful damaging or destruction of an object belonging to another – is punishable by up…
Read more →Insult (§ 185 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense
In brief: Insult under § 185 StGB – the communication of disrespect or contempt for a person – is punishable by up to one year…
Read more →Driving Without a Licence (§ 21 StVG) – Elements, Penalties and Defense
In brief: Driving without a licence under § 21 StVG is a criminal offense, punishable by up to one year of imprisonment or a fine.…
Read more →Background Checks & the German Führungszeugnis – What Employers See
The certificate of conduct hides more than it shows: dropped cases, dismissals and first fines up to 90 daily rates never appear. The rules, the deadlines – and why the 90-daily-rates threshold matters.
Read more →The Criminal Judgment: Structure, Consequences, Appeals and Commencement
The criminal judgment concludes the trial. It determines whether the accused is convicted or acquitted, which legal consequences apply and which avenues of appeal remain.…
Read more →Changing your court-appointed defense lawyer – when is it possible?
Anyone who has a court-appointed defense lawyer but is dissatisfied with their work quickly asks: can I change my court-appointed defense lawyer? Since the reform of the…
Read more →Postponing a trial date in criminal proceedings – is it possible?
A summons to the main hearing reaches many defendants at an inconvenient time – due to illness, a work commitment, a holiday, or because their…
Read more →Fraud (§ 263 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense
In brief: Fraud under § 263 StGB requires a deception that causes an error in the victim, which leads to a disposition that reduces their…
Read more →Assault (§ 223 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense
In brief: Assault (bodily harm) under § 223 StGB is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment or a fine. Many proceedings can be…
Read more →Theft (§§ 242, 243 StGB) – Elements, Penalties and Defense
In brief: Theft under § 242 StGB is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment or a fine. For low-value objects (for instance in…
Read more →