Criminal law

Criminal law is a system of laws concerned with punishment of individuals who commit crimes. It is a body of both statutory and common law that deals with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offenses.

Overview

Criminal law encompasses the rules and statutes written by Congress and state legislators dealing with any criminal activity that causes harm to the public, with penalties. It also covers criminal procedure connected with charging, trying, sentencing and imprisoning defendants convicted of crimes.

Substantive Criminal Law

Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and may establish punishments. In contrast, Criminal Procedure describes the process through which the criminal laws are enforced. For example, the law prohibits the theft of personal property, and the punishment for theft may be imprisonment and/or a fine.

Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure deals with the set of rules governing the series of proceedings through which the government enforces substantive criminal law. It includes the punishment of people who violate these laws.

Crimes and Punishments

Crimes are usually categorized as felonies or misdemeanors based on their nature and the maximum punishment that can be imposed. A felony involves serious misconduct that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than one year.

Criminal Liability

Criminal Liability may be predicated on a failure to act when the accused was under a legal duty to act and was reasonably capable of acting.

Defenses

The law provides several ways to beat a criminal charge, including insanity, self-defense, and entrapment.

See Also

• Civil law
• Public law
• Legal ethics

References

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  Old Bailey, London

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  Lord Chief Justice's Court, 1886

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  International Criminal Court, 2018