criminal law
Prosecution and punishment
Criminal law is the body of law defining offenses against the state or society—crimes—and their punishments.
It contrasts with civil law, which governs disputes between private parties.
Criminal law covers everything from traffic violations to murder, with the government prosecuting alleged offenders: She specialized in criminal law after law school.
Pursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
witness · judge · courtroom · cross-examination · arraignment · indictment · pleadings · subpoena
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
redress · remedy · morality · ethics · presumption of innocence · rule of law · habeas corpus · legal representation
Confinement in jail
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- probationSupervised trial period
- paroleConditional early release
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
community service · capital punishment · detention · fine · correctional · rehabilitation · sanction · deterrence
Civil law enforcement
- arrestSeize by law
- warrantFormal authorization document
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- statuteEnacted written rule
legislation · regulation · patrol · detective · investigation · surveillance · custody · search and seizure
Facts supporting truth
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
- autopsyMedical examination after death
ballistics · toxicology · pathology · trace evidence · profiling · serology · reconstruction · expert witness
prosecution
Pursuing legal charges
testimony · witness · judge · courtroom · cross-examination · arraignment · indictment · pleadings · subpoena · objection
due process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
adjudication · redress · remedy · morality · ethics · presumption of innocence · rule of law · habeas corpus · legal representation · beyond reasonable doubt
incarceration
Confinement in jail
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- probationSupervised trial period
- paroleConditional early release
restitution · community service · capital punishment · detention · fine · correctional · rehabilitation · sanction · deterrence · prison
police
Civil law enforcement
- arrestSeize by law
- warrantFormal authorization document
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
statute · legislation · regulation · patrol · detective · investigation · surveillance · custody · search and seizure · Miranda rights
evidence
Facts supporting truth
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
autopsy · ballistics · toxicology · pathology · trace evidence · profiling · serology · reconstruction · expert witness · forensic anthropology
- legal analysiscase law, precedent, statute, legal research, legal memo
- legal fieldscivil law, administrative law, common law, civil procedure, family law
- legal topicsconstitutional law, legal procedures, administrative law, federal law, legal documents
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- lawsstatute, ordinance, acts, statutes, federal statute
- ruleslaw, rule, guideline, bylaw, standard
criminal lawcivil law
Law governing private disputes
civil litigation · tort law · contract law · civil procedure · family law
criminal lawcivil law
Law governing private disputes
civil suits · restorative justice · decriminalization · arbitration · mediation
crime, criminal, laws, lawful, unlawful, criminals, incriminate, criminally, incrimination