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Definition: criminal law from Philip's Encyclopedia

Body of law that defines crimes, lays down rules of procedure for dealing with them, and establishes penalties for those convicted. Broadly, a crime is distinguished from a tort by being deemed injurious to the state. In many countries the criminal law has been codified. Among the best-known modern codes are the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (1532) promulgated by Charles II for the Holy Roman Empire, Joseph II's code for Austria (1786), and the Code Napoléon. Criminal law remains part of common law, although since the 18th century it has been greatly added to by statute law.

criminal law

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
the branch of law that defines crimes, treats of their nature, and provides for their punishment. A tort is a civil wrong committed against an individual; a crime, on the other hand, is regarded as an offense committed against the public, even though only one individual may have been wronged. The real distinction lies in the way a remedy for the wrong is pursued. A tort is a wrong for which the remedy is pursued by, and at the discretion of, the injured individual or his or her representative, while a crime is a wrong for which the wrongdoer is prosecuted by the state for the purpose of punishment. However, the fact that a particular act has been or may be prosecuted as a crime does not necessarily preclude an injured party from seeking recovery from the offender in a civil action. For an account of criminal law in ancient and medieval times, see composition ; vendetta . See also military law ; martial law ; international law ; piracy ; war crimes . Crimes are usually classified as…
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Full text Article criminal law

From Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Political Thought
The branch of law dealing with crime and punishment . In England the criminal law is founded in common law , substantially modified by statute in 1861, and further in the twentieth century. In Scotland criminal law is still, for the most part, common law, while the English common law of crime…
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Full text Article Criminal Law

From American Governance
© MASTERFILE/CORBIS Three men stand in a police...
At the founding, the states were the primary actors in criminal matters. When the US Constitution was ratified in 1787, with few exceptions, it provided Congress only with the power to punish counterfeiting, treason, “Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of…
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Full text Article criminal law

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
the branch of law that defines crimes, treats of their nature, and provides for their punishment. A tort is a civil wrong committed against an individual; a crime, on the other hand, is regarded as an offense committed against the public, even though only one individual may have been wronged. The…
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Full text Article criminal law.

From The Oxford Companion to British History
In Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, there was no distinction between criminal and civil law. Violence, or the causing of damage or harm to another's person or property, was subject to savage penalties if the offender was caught red-handed, but other cases, including homicide, were dealt with by a…
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Full text Article Publications in Criminal Law

From World of Criminal Justice, Gale
There are a wide variety of publications available for research in the field of criminal law. Since the primary origination of criminal law is from statutes enacted by the legislature of the federal and each state, the best guide to a specific meaning and elements of a crime lies in the criminal…
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Full text Article International Criminal Law

From The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice
This entry provides a comprehensive review of one of the most dynamic and prolific areas of law to develop over the past 30 years. International criminal law provides guidance through norms and principles for the international community to legally prosecute individuals, even if national governments…
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Full text Article Criminal Law Reform

From World of Criminal Justice, Gale
Since the 1700s, many drives for criminal law reform occurred in Western Europe and the United States. Criminal law reform addresses substantive definitions of criminal behavior, criminal procedure , the various types of punishment, and the administration of the criminal justice system. The rise of…
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Full text Article Substantive versus Procedural Criminal Law

From The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice
There are two very important, and very distinct, areas of criminal law: substantive law and procedural law. This entry introduces the reader to the basic differences between the two by exploring a few examples drawn from each. The basic difference between substantive law and procedural law is the…
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Full text Article International Criminal Law

From World of Criminal Justice, Gale
A body of law, governing the acceptable action of global society, international criminal law is derived from a number of areas including general principles of international law recognized by civilized nations, the general criminal law recognized by nations within national boundaries, and the…
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Full text Article forgery, in criminal law

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
in criminal law, willful fabrication or alteration of a written document with the intent to injure the interests of another in a fraudulent manner. The crime may be committed even though the fraudulent scheme fails. The forgery of government obligations—e.g., money, bonds, postage stamps—constitutes…
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