Public Administration

Political Science: Fields in Political Science: Public Administration Introduction to Public Administration Political scientists interested in public administration study government organizations and their relation to other parts of government. Political scientists investigate how these […]

Delinquency

Introduction to Delinquency Delinquency, criminal or antisocial behavior of juveniles. Juvenile delinquents are usually considered to be in need of treatment, rehabilitation, or discipline. The term delinquency also applies to payments that are overdue." (1) Related Fields Related […]

Corruption

Corruption Definition Corruption, wrongdoing by those in a special position of trust. The term is commonly applied to self-benefiting conduct by public officials and others dedicated to public service. (1) Corruption is not a technical term; it is not considered a criminal offence in most […]

Prisoner

Prisoner Vote in Election Law Some countries allow prisoners to vote. Given that they are usually incarcerated far from their electoral constituencies and obviously cannot leave, polling centres are set up inside jails so that they may exercise their right to vote. Resources See Also Social […]

Criminology

Introduction to Criminology According to Encarta, "Criminology, the scientific study of criminals and criminal behavior. Criminologists attempt to build theories that explain why crimes occur and test those theories by observing behavior. Criminological theories help shape society's […]

Juvenile Delinquency

Introduction This entry provides an overview of the legal framework of juvenile delinquency, with a description of the most significant features of juvenile delinquency at international level. Related Work and Conclusions Resources See Also Social Problem Crime Delinquency Juvenile […]

Terrorism

What is Terrorism? Government Definitions of Terrorism Introduction to Terrorism Legal statutes in most countries around the world regard terrorism as a crime. Yet there is considerable variation in how these laws define terrorism, even in countries whose laws derive from a common origin. […]

Violence

Violence Definition Violence may be defined as a physical attack of another person. Activities that may legally involve violence include hunting, law enforcement, sports, and war. Crime includes many illegal forms of violence. The first point that has to be clarified is the meaning of the […]

Death Penalty

WHEN BRITISH LAWYER CHRISTOPHER EADES arrived at Louisiana's oldest prison, the State Penitentiary at Angola, he found abominable food, sweltering heat, and inmates who feared for their lives. Literacy and education were minimal. One prisoner could name his birth date but not his age. Others […]

Torture

Introduction to Torture Torture, the infliction of bodily pain or mental suffering either as punishment, to compel a person to confess to a crime or provide information, or to intimidate, coerce, discriminate against, or repress a person or group of people for political purposes. The methods […]

Surveillance

Crime Detection Surveillance Introduction to Surveillance One of the oldest ways of detecting criminal activity is through surveillance. This method is used when it is likely that a crime will take place at a specific location or when certain persons are suspected of criminal activit…

Disclosure of Information

Resources See Also Social Problem Crime Delinquency Juvenile Delinquency Delinquent Social Issues Crime Prevention

Sociology

Introduction to Sociology Sociology may be defined as the scientific study of human social relations or group life. See more definitions of Sociology in the Legal Dictionary. Other disciplines within the social sciences-including economics, political science, anthropology, and […]

Mental Health

Law and Mental Health Contents of Law and Mental Health Contents of this subject matter include: Introduction to mental health and the law What is mental disorder? – Intellectual disability, mental illness/psychosocial disability and other mental conditions Clinical expert witnesses […]

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 […]

Child Pornography

Hello "Research and policy on the criminal aspects of pornography has in most recent years focused almost all of its attention on child pornography, especially as a result of the important role played therein by the internet as the medium that has greatly eased the distribution of such […]

Fraud

Introduction to Fraud Fraud, in law, general term for any instance in which one party deceives or takes unfair advantage of another. Any means used by one person to deceive another may be defined as fraud. For example, if a person represents himself or herself as the agent of a business with […]

Prostitution

Criminal Law: Crimes Against Sexual Morality: Prostitution Introduction to Prostitution The crime of prostitution involves the exchange of sexual contact or favors for money or its equivalent. The crime of pandering involves the promotion of prostitution by enticing or procuring persons to […]

Crime

Introduction to Crime Crime, commission of an act or act of omission that violates the law and is punishable by the state. Crimes are considered injurious to society or the community, as distinguished from torts (see Tort) and breach of contract. As defined by law, a crime includes both the […]

Pornography

"From a criminological perspective, pornography has been investigated in its relationship to criminal behavior or as a form of crime itself. Research on the relation between pornography and crime has primarily focused on the impact which the exposure to pornographic materials has on […]

Slavery

The Legal History of Slavery This general section provides an overview of Slavery and its historical context. Slavery in the Ancient Greek Law See the main entry of this legal history topic. Slavery in the Roman Law See the main entry of this legal history topic. Slavery in the English […]

Trafficking in Persons

Definition Definition of “Trafficking in persons” based on the concept provided by the United Nations Protocol To Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking In Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized […]

Jeopardy

Introduction to Jeopardy Jeopardy, in criminal law, peril incurred by a defendant charged with a crime, on trial before a court of competent jurisdiction. In the past, it was not uncommon for persons acquitted of criminal charges by the verdict of a jury to be tried a second time on the […]

Bigamy

Bigamy, in law, the criminal offense of marrying while one is still a partner in a valid earlier marriage. A person is not guilty of bigamy, however, if the prior marriage has been terminated by divorce or annulment. Bigamy is a crime in most Western nations, including the United States, the […]

Environment

Matters of International Concern: The Environment Introduction to Environment In the late 1960s concern with the state of the world's environment emerged as an international issue. This occurred largely in response to several disastrous spills by oil tankers that brought attention to high […]

Child Labor

Introduction Child Labor, designation formerly applied to the practice of employing young children in factories, now used to denote the employment of minors generally, especially in work that may interfere with their education or endanger their health. Throughout the ages and in all cultures […]

Insanity

Defenses to Crimes: Insanity Introduction to Insanity The defense of insanity is based on the premise that those who are unable to control their actions or appreciate the criminality of their actions due to mental defect or illness should not be punished under criminal law. The insanity […]

Arraignment

Arraignment, in the law of Great Britain and the United States, the bringing of a person who has been formally accused of a crime before the court that has jurisdiction to try the person to answer the accusations of the indictment. After the accused is identified, the indictment is read, and […]

Transnational Crime

Transnational crime From a criminological perspective, the concept of 'transnational crime' originates from the mid-1970s when the United Nations used the term in order to identify certain criminal activities which transcend national jurisdictions. In 1995, the United Nations identified […]