Criminal Law
Introduction to Criminal Law
Criminal Law, branch of law that defines crimes, establishes punishments, and regulates the investigation and prosecution of people accused of committing crimes. Criminal law includes both substantive law, which is addressed in this article, and criminal procedure, which regulates the implementation and enforcement of substantive criminal law.
Substantive criminal law defines crime and punishment-for example, what act constitutes murder or what punishment a murderer should receive. On the other hand, criminal procedure is concerned with the legal rules followed and the steps taken to investigate, apprehend, charge, prosecute, convict, and sentence to punishment individuals who violate substantive criminal law. For example, criminal procedure describes how a murder trial must be conducted.
This article discusses criminal law in the context of the common law system, which is found in countries such as England, Canada, and the United States. In the common law system, judges decide cases by referring to principles set forth in previous judicial decisions. Common law systems are typically contrasted with civil law systems, which are found in most Western European countries, much of Latin America and Africa, and parts of Asia. In civil law systems, judges decide cases by referring to statutes, which are enacted by legislatures and compiled in comprehensive books called codes.
In legal systems based on common law, criminal law is distinguished from what is known as civil law. In this context, the term civil law refers to the rules regulating private relationships, such as marriage, contracts, and personal injuries. In contrast, criminal law governs actions and relationships that are deemed to harm society as a whole.” (1)
British Influence
“The criminal law of England forms the basis of the criminal law of all British possessions abroad, with a few exceptions, e.g. the Channel Islands (still subject to the custom of Normandy) and the anomalous case of Cyprus, where Mahommedan law is to some extent in force.” (2)
In Philosophy of Law
Criminal law, in relation of philosophy of law, covers the following:
- Punishment in Criminal Law (see)
- Justification and Excuse in Criminal Law
- Defenses in Criminal Law
- Specific Crimes
- Criminal/Tort Distinction
Criminal Law and Procedure: Main Elements
The coverage of Criminal Law and Procedure includes the following main elements:
The Death Penalty
For detailed information on this issue, please read the corresponding entry.
Parole, Probation, and Mandatory Sentencing (Three Strikes Law)
Please, refer to the appropiate entry related to the issue.
Plea Bargaining
Find out an overview of this issue following this link (topic).
Prosecution and Trial
There is information on this basic subject matter in this legal reference.
The Prohibition against Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Find out an overview of this topic in the legal Ecyclopedia.
Miranda Rights
There is information on this basic subject matter in this legal reference.
References
See Also
- Criminal Law (in international or comparative law)
- Criminal Procedure (in international or comparative law)
Concept of Criminal Law
Note: explore also the meaning of this legal term in the American Ecyclopedia of Law.
Criminal Law
Contents of Criminal Law
Contents of this subject matter include:
- Classification of Crimes and Proof
- Elements of a Crime
- Unlawful Homicide
- Property Offences
- Assaults and Sexual Assault
- Indirect Offences
- Defenses
- Exam Revision
Worldwide Criminal Law
Contents of Worldwide Criminal Law
Contents of this subject matter include:
- Crime, History and Reason
- Crime, History and Reason (cont.)
- Arrest and Bail
- Crime and Violence I
- Crime and Violence II
- Terrorism
- Corporate Crime and Corruption
- Hate Crime
- Slavery
- Defenses I
- Defenses II
Introduction
Criminal Law
This entry provides an overview of the legal framework of criminal law, with a description of the most significant features of criminal law at international level.
Related Work and Conclusions
Resources
See Also
- Judiciary
Resources
See Also
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
Resources
See Also
- Social Problem
- Crime
- Delinquency
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Delinquent
- Social Issues
- Crime Prevention
Resources
See Also
References (Papers)
- Free Will’s Enormous Cost: Why Retribution, Grounded In Free Will, Is An Invalid And Impractical Penal Goal, Matthew D. Moyer, Jul 2017
- Restoring Independence To The Grand Jury: A Victim Advocate For The Police Use Of Force Cases, Jonathan Witmer-Rich, Jul 2017
- Introduction To Dignity Special Issue: Freedom From Sexploitation, Lisa L. Thompson, Donna M. Hughes, Jul 2017
- Amend The Communications Decency Act To Protect Victims Of Sexual Exploitation, Samantha Vardaman, Jul 2017
- Section 875c: Not For All Intents And Purposes, Maris Snell, Jun 2017
- The Sentencing Controversy: Punishment And Policy In The War Against Drugs – Introduction – What Frankel Hath Wrought, Donald W. Dowd, Jun 2017
Resources
Notes and References
- Information about Criminal Law in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia
- Encyclopedia Britannica (1911)
Guide to Criminal Law
In this Section
In this Section, contents include, among others: Criminal Law, Criminal Law Purpose, Criminal Punishment Theories, Criminal Punishment Retribution, Criminal Deterrence, Criminal Restraint, Rehabilitation, Restoration, Criminal Punishment Conflicts Among Goals and Classification of Crimes.
The Legal History of Criminal Law
This section provides an overview of Criminal Law
Resources
See Also
- Legal Biography
- Legal Traditions
- Historical Laws
- History of Law
Further Reading
- Criminal Law in the Oxford International Encyclopedia of Legal History (Oxford University Press)
- The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Political and Legal History (Oxford University Press)
- Criminal Law in the Dictionary of Concepts in History, by Harry Ritter
- A Short History of Western Legal Theory, by John Kelly
Spanish Translation of criminal law
This is the legal translation of English to Spanish in relation to criminal law and / or a definition of this topic: Derecho Penal (in Spanish, without translation of the dictionary entry).
Spanish Translation of criminal law
This is the legal translation of English to Spanish in relation to criminal law and / or a definition of this topic: Derecho Criminal (in Spanish, without translation of the dictionary entry).
Hierarchical Display of Criminal law
Law > Criminal law
Law > Justice > Judicial proceedings > Criminal procedure
Law > Justice > Legal action > Criminal proceedings
Law > Organisation of the legal system > Legal system > Ordinary court of law > Criminal court
Law > Organisation of the legal system > Legal profession > Criminal investigation department
Science > Humanities > Behavioural sciences > Criminology
Law > Sources and branches of the law > Source of law > Legal code > Penal code
Criminal law
Concept of Criminal law
See the dictionary definition of Criminal law.
Characteristics of Criminal law
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Resources
Translation of Criminal law
- Spanish: Derecho penal
- French: Droit pénal
- German: Strafrecht
- Italian: Diritto penale
- Portuguese: Direito penal
- Polish: Prawo karne
Thesaurus of Criminal law
Law > Criminal law > Criminal law
Law > Justice > Judicial proceedings > Criminal procedure > Criminal law
Law > Justice > Legal action > Criminal proceedings > Criminal law
Law > Organisation of the legal system > Legal system > Ordinary court of law > Criminal court > Criminal law
Law > Organisation of the legal system > Legal profession > Criminal investigation department > Criminal law
Science > Humanities > Behavioural sciences > Criminology > Criminal law
Law > Sources and branches of the law > Source of law > Legal code > Penal code > Criminal law
See also
- Criminal procedure
- Witness protection
- Judicial investigation
- Judicial inquiry
- Restorative justice
- Charge
- Search
- Arrest
- Surveillance
- Detention before trial
- Criminal proceedings
- Criminal court
- Criminal investigation department
- Criminology
- Penal code
- Criminal code
Hierarchical Display of Criminal law
Criminal law
Concept of Criminal law
See the dictionary definition of Criminal law.
Characteristics of Criminal law
[rtbs name=”xxx-xxx”]
Resources
Translation of Criminal law
- Spanish: Derecho penal
- French: Droit pénal
- German: Strafrecht
- Italian: Diritto penale
- Portuguese: Direito penal
- Polish: Prawo karne
Thesaurus of Criminal law
See also
- Economic analysis
- Econometrics
- Economic indicator
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Economic structure
- Impact study
- Economic consequence
- Input-output analysis
- Economic survey
- Economic value
- Economics
- Economic forecasting
- Economist
- Economics science researcher
- Economics analyst
- Business economist
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