What Charges Are Being Brought Against Cops?

With the city embroiled in fervent protest over this last week, calling for answers and justice after the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray while in police custody, protests have gotten at least one facet of what they wanted — six Baltimore police officers were charged for Freddie Gray's death on Friday, according to state attorney Marilyn Mosby. It's a major development, and given recent events it's taken a fair number of people by surprise.

But charges alone aren't the end of the story — there's still the question of whether they'll be convicted, what defenses will come out at trial (there still hasn't been a particularly detailed or illuminating official account of what went down in the back of the police van that Gray seemingly sustained his dire injuries in), and what long-term impact will this case have on the department and the West Baltimore community?

Not all criminal charges are created equal, either. So, you ask, what were these six officers specifically charged with, and what might the consequences be?

Here's the rundown: Mosby announced Friday morning that the six officers would be charged, and that warrants were out for their arrests.

• Officer Caesar Goodson, the van's driver, has been charged with second-degree depraved heart murder (heart murder is a crime most commonly described as showing a callous indifference towards human life), involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, two counts of vehicular manslaughter, and one misconduct charge.
• Officer William Porter has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, and misconduct.
• Lieutenant Brian Rice has received two involuntary manslaughter charges, two second-degree assault charges, two misconduct charges, and a false imprisonment charge.
• Officer Edward Nero has received second-degree assault charges, two misconduct charges, and a false imprisonment charge. These are identical charges to those faced by Officer Garrett Miller.
• Sergeant Alicia White has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, and misconduct.