Criminal law is a system of laws concerned with crimes and the punishment of individuals who commit crimes. It is an interdisciplinary field that engages the meanings, values, practices, and institutions of law and legality. Criminal law defines criminal offenses, regulates the apprehension, charging, and trial of suspected persons, and fixes penalties and modes of treatment applicable to convicted offenders. It is different from civil law because criminal law penalties involve the forfeiture of ones rights and imprisonment, while civil laws relate to the resolution of legal controversies and involve money damages.
The main types of criminal law offenses are felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are the most serious crimes, which include offenses like murder, robbery, and arson, while misdemeanors are more minor offenses, like traffic violations or petty thefts. The most common crimes are larceny (theft), burglary, and aggravated assault. Criminal law is distinctive for the uniquely serious potential consequences or sanctions for failure to abide by its rules. Capital punishment may be imposed in some jurisdictions for the most serious crimes, and physical or corporal punishment may be imposed, such as whipping or caning, although these punishments are prohibited in much of the world.
The main theories for criminal law include deterring crime, reforming the perpetrator, providing retribution for the act, and preventing further crimes. Criminal law is enforced by threat of criminal punishment, and the range of the punishment varies with the jurisdiction. Each state has its own criminal code, and Congress has also chosen to punish certain conduct, codifying federal criminal law in Title 18 of the U.S. Code.
