criminal laws
Rules punishing offenses
Criminal laws are statutes that define conduct punishable by the state—crimes ranging from theft and assault to murder and fraud.
Distinguished from civil law, which governs disputes between private parties, criminal law involves prosecution by government and penalties including fines, probation, or imprisonment.
The criminal laws in this jurisdiction treat drug possession harshly.
- felonySerious criminal offense
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- three strikesConsecutive misses retiring batter
- mens reaBlameworthy mental state
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
cybercrime · penal code · due process · fair trial · habeas corpus · offences · double jeopardy · burden of proof · beyond reasonable doubt · statute · theft · Miranda rights · search and seizure · restorative justice · misdemeanor · right to counsel · juvenile offender · presumption of innocence
criminal lawscivil law
Law governing private disputes
tort law · contract law · civil code · commercial law · civil litigation
criminal lawslegal protections
Laws shielding rights
decriminalization · legalization · civil liberties · constitutional rights
crime, criminal, lawful, unlawful, crimes, criminals, incriminate, criminally, incrimination