Criminal Law

Introduction to Criminal Law

What we call criminal law broadly refers to federal and state laws that make certain behavior illegal and punishable by imprisonment and/or fines. Our legal system is largely comprised of two different types of cases: civil and criminal. Civil cases are disputes between people regarding the legal duties and responsibilities they owe each other. Criminal cases, meanwhile, are charges pursued by prosecutors for violations of criminal statutes.

What constitutes criminal behaviour varies from country to country and from era to era. For example, homosexuality is a criminal offence in Saudi Arabia, although it is not in England and Wales. Similarly, behaviour which historically amounted to a criminal offence may not amount to a crime today.

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Criminal Charges

Criminal law operates differently according to what crime the state has charged a defendant with. Each crime has its own set of elements that define it, as well as defenses that may apply and factors that influence sentencing. However, while each crime is different, there are several broad types of crimes that share features and defenses. It can be useful to examine all the crimes in a category in order to understand the laws and defenses and involved.

Criminal Rights

The criminal justice system is intimidating, but that doesn't mean that criminal defendants don't have rights. Through each stage of the criminal justice system, there are important rights that the government must uphold.

Juvenile Justice

Offenders who have not yet reached 18 years of age typically enter the juvenile justice system rather than the adult criminal justice system. While many of the crimes committed may be the same, juvenile offenders are subject to different laws and procedures than adults who have been charged with crimes. This section offers a guide to juvenile crime, the laws governing minors, and the court procedures involved in juvenile cases.

Expungement

We all worry about what could end up on our permanent record. A criminal conviction can remain on your record indefinitely, making it hard to find a job, get into college, or adopt a child. Fortunately, many people who have been arrested or convicted of a crime may be able to obtain a fresh start by way of expungement. Expungement is the legal process through which an arrest or conviction may be erased from a person's criminal record. While law enforcement officials may always have access to your criminal history, expungement can keep your record clean in the eyes of employers, schools, and the general public.

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