Criminal Law
 Criminal Law or penal law, involves prosecution by the government of
a person for an act that has been classified as a crime. It is the body
of statutory and common law that deals with crime and the legal
punishment of criminal offenses. There are four theories of criminal
justice: punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. It
is believed that by imposing sanctions for the crime, society can
achieve justice and a peaceable social order.
Criminal Law deals with: Arson, Assault, Battery, Bribery, Burglary,
Child Abuse, Child Pornography, Computer Crimes, Controlled Substances,
Credit Card Fraud , Criminal Defense, Durgs and Narcotics, DUI/DWI,
Embezzlement, Fraud, Expungements, Felonies, Homicide, Identity Theft,
Manslaughter, Money Laundering, Murder, Perjury, Prostitution, Rape,
RICO, Robbery, Sex Crimes, Shoplifting, Theft, Weapons, White Collar
Crime and Wire Fraud among others.
Free Legal Forms for Criminal Law
Criminal law involves prosecution by the government of a person for
an act that has been classified as a crime. Civil cases, on the other
hand, involve individuals and organizations seeking to resolve legal
disputes. In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates
the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons
convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. However,
persons found liable in a civil case may only have to give up property
or pay money, but are not incarcerated.
A "crime" is any act or omission (of an act) in violation of a public
law forbidding or commanding it. Though there are some common law
crimes, most crimes in the United States are established by local,
state, and federal governments. Criminal laws vary significantly from
state to state. There is, however, a Model Penal Code (MPC) which serves
as a good starting place to gain an understanding of the basic structure
of criminal liability.
Crimes include both felonies (more serious offenses -- like murder or
rape) and misdemeanors (less serious offenses -- like petty theft or
jaywalking). Felonies are usually crimes punishable by imprisonment of a
year or more, while misdemeanors are crimes punishable by less than a
year. However, no act is a crime if it has not been previously
established as such either by statute or common law. Recently, the list
of Federal crimes dealing with activities extending beyond state
boundaries or having special impact on federal operations, has grown.
All statutes describing criminal behavior can be broken down into
their various elements. Most crimes (with the exception of
strict-liability crimes) consist of two elements: an act, or "actus reus,"
and a mental state, or "mens rea". Prosecutors have to prove each and
every element of the crime to yield a conviction. Furthermore, the
prosecutor must persuade the jury or judge "beyond a reasonable doubt"
of every fact necessary to constitute the crime charged. In civil cases,
the plaintiff needs to show a defendant is liable only by a
"preponderance of the evidence," or more than 50%.
Criminal Law - US
ABA Criminal
Justice Section
The mission of the Criminal Justice Section is to improve the criminal
justice system and to serve its members, the profession and the public.
Bureau of Justice
Statistics
BJS mission: To collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information
on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of
justice systems at all levels of government. These data are critical to
Federal, State, and local policymakers in combating crime and ensuring
that justice is both efficient and evenhanded.
Crimes and Criminal
Procedures, Title 18 - United States Code
Includes the body of statutes and other laws that defines conduct which
is prohibited by the government because it is held to threaten, harm or
otherwise endanger the safety and welfare of the public, and that sets
out the punishment to be imposed on those who breach these laws.
Differences between Civil and
Criminal Law in the US
Criminal law is much better known to laymen than civil law, as a result
of journalists' reports of famous criminal trials. In talking with
people about law, I find that they often misapply principles from
criminal law to situations in civil (e.g., tort) law, which results in
their misunderstanding. They are surprised when they learn the actual
legal principles that apply to a problem. The purpose of this essay is
to compare and contrast criminal and civil law.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Our mission is to help protect you, your communities, and your
businesses from the most dangerous threats facing our nation—from
international and domestic terrorists to spies on U.S. soil…from cyber
villains to corrupt government officials…from mobsters to violent
gangs…from child predators to serial killers. Learn more here about our
work with law enforcement and intelligence partners across the country
and around the globe.
Federal Rules of Evidence
The Federal Rules of Evidence generally govern civil and criminal
proceedings in the courts of the United States and proceedings before
U.S. Bankruptcy judges and U.S. magistrates, to the extent and with the
exceptions stated in the rules. Promulgated by the U.S. Supreme Court
and amended by Congress from time to time, the Federal Rules of Evidence
are considered legislative enactments that have the force of statute,
and courts interpret them as they would any other statute, employing
traditional tools of statutory construction in applying their
provisions.
Federal Sentencing
Guidelines Manuals
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency in the
judicial branch of government. Its principal purposes are: (1) to
establish sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts,
including guidelines to be consulted regarding the appropriate form and
severity of punishment for offenders convicted of federal crimes; (2) to
advise and assist Congress and the executive branch in the development
of effective and efficient crime policy; and (3) to collect, analyze,
research, and distribute a broad array of information on federal crime
and sentencing issues, serving as an information resource for Congress,
the executive branch, the courts, criminal justice practitioners, the
academic community, and the public.
National
Center for Victims of Crime
The National Center for Victims of Crime works to make sure all crime
victims get the assistance and information they need. We are committed
to doing our best to help you.
National Criminal Justice Reference
Service (NCJRS)
NCJRS is a federally funded resource offering justice and substance
abuse information to support research, policy, and program development
worldwide.
Office for Victims of Crime
(OVC)
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) was established by the 1984
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to oversee diverse programs that benefit
victims of crime. OVC provides substantial funding to state victim
assistance and compensation programs-the lifeline services that help
victims to heal.
United States Department of Justice
To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States
according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign
and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and
controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful
behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for
all Americans.
Criminal Code by State - US.
Criminal Law - Europe
Criminal Justice System for
England and Wales
The CJS is one of the major public services in the country. Across the
CJS, agencies such as the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the
courts and the National Offender Management Service work together to
deliver criminal justice. The work of these agencies is overseen by
three government departments: the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office
and the Attorney General's Office.
European Criminal Bar Association
( ECBA)
The European Criminal Bar Association ( ECBA) is an association of
independent specialist defence lawyers. The association itself if wholly
independent and free from outside interference. Its affairs are managed
by an executive committee and advisory board elected by the membership
in general assembly every three years. Members are motivated by their
desire to keep up to date with professional developments, to be fully
informed of developments at European level which affect their clients,
and by their motivation to protect and resist where necessary any
attempted diminution of defence rights.
European Union
Civic and Penal Law
Criminal Law - International
Canadian
Criminal Code - Department of Justice
Under Canada’s federal system, the administration of justice is an area
of shared jurisdiction between the federal government and the provinces.
The Department supports the Minister of Justice in his responsibilities
for 49 statutes and areas of federal law by ensuring a bilingual and
bijural national legal framework principally within the following
domains: criminal justice (including youth criminal justice); family
justice; access to justice; Aboriginal justice; and, general public law
and private international law.
International Criminal Law - Definition
International criminal law is an autonomous branch of law which deals
with international crimes and the courts and tribunals set up to
adjudicate cases in which persons have incurred international criminal
responsibility. It represents a significant departure from 'classical'
international law which was mainly considered law created by states for
the benefit of states, but tended to ignore the individual as a subject
of the law.
The United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime (UNODC)
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader
in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. Established
in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control
Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, UNODC
operates in all regions of the world through an extensive network of
field offices.
United Nations Interregional Crime
and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
The Master's programme is designed for those who seek to develop a
unique insight in International Criminal Law, its implementation and the
International Organisations' activities in the area. In particular, it
is aimed at: University Graduates in Law, Political Science,
International Relations, or equivalent qualifications; Young
professionals in government institutions, local authorities,
international organisations, NGOs; Lawyers seeking a specialisation in
the field of international criminal justice.
Organizations Related to Criminal Law
Coalition for the International
Criminal Court
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court includes 2,500
organizations around the world working in partnership to strengthen
international cooperation with the ICC; ensure that the Court is fair,
effective and independent; make justice both visible and universal; and
advance stronger national laws that deliver justice to victims of war
crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
European Criminal Law
Academic Network (ECLAN)
The objective of ECLAN is to promote academic research and education on
the field of European Criminal Law.
Guide to Electronic
Resources for International Law - ASIL
Most legal scholars agree that a recognizable body of international
criminal law does exist. However, the precise parameters of this body of
law are often unclear, perhaps due to the rapid and complex developments
of our global society. In its widest context, the source of
international criminal law might be derived from the general principles
of international law recognized by civilized nations; and therefore,
found in the customary law accepted by states, the general criminal law
recognized by nations, and the treaties which govern particular conduct.
International
Criminal Court (ICC)
The International Criminal Court (ICC), governed by the Rome Statute,
is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court
established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most
serious crimes of concern to the international community.
International
Criminal Law Bureau (ICLB)
The International Criminal Law Bureau is a group of highly-qualified
lawyers with unrivalled expertise in international criminal law,
international humanitarian law, human rights law and criminal law. The
Bureau’s lawyers provide clients with the skill and experience needed to
handle the most complex international criminal cases, political
situations and problems. The Bureau provides advice, consultancy and
training services to States, international organisations, international
courts and private clients.
International Criminal Law Network
(ICLN)
For the advancement of international criminal law professional and
social interaction between academics, policymakers and legal
professionals on a worldwide level is essential. In addition, with the
establishment of new institutions such as the ICC and Eurojust, the
exchange of knowledge needs to be structured.
International Criminal Law Society
(ICLS)
The International Criminal Law Society is actively engaged in
dissemination of knowledge about and implementation of international
criminal law, so that perpetrators of the most serious international
crimes will no longer benefit from impunity.
Publications Related to Criminal Law
Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure
These rules govern the conduct of all criminal proceedings brought in
Federal courts.
International
Criminal Law: A Selective Resource Guide
The purpose of this guide is to provide researchers with a selective
quick guide to basic and significant materials, both print and
electronic, in the topic area of international criminal law and its
processes. As a hyperlinked, contextual guide, it is not intended as a
substitute for the compilation of any updated, comprehensive
bibliography by using electronic indexes and catalogues and their print
equivalents (for older and historic materials).
Overview of Criminal Law
An exhaustive list of publications regarding laws, regulations,
liability and various legal issues dealing with criminal / penal law and
the Criminal Code.
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