Criminal Law Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Criminal Law?

Criminal law is a body of laws that define and regulate the punishments for criminal acts. It is enforced by the government and is aimed at protecting people from harm and maintaining order in society. Criminal law ensures that those who commit criminal acts are held accountable for their actions.Criminal law consists of two main branches: substantive criminal law and procedural criminal law. Substantive criminal law focuses on the elements of an offense, such as what constitutes an act or omission, what type of act or omission it was, and how serious it was. Procedural criminal law focuses on the process used to investigate, prosecute, try, sentence, or appeal a case involving a crime. The purpose of criminal law is to protect public safety by punishing offenders who have committed serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, burglary, or assault. These laws also deter potential offenders by setting out clear penalties for certain offenses so they may be aware of the consequences before deciding to engage in any illegal activities. Furthermore, laws can provide victims with justice by holding perpetrators responsible for their actions and ensuring that they receive appropriate punishment for their transgressions against society’s rules. Criminal laws must adhere to constitutional principles set out in the U.S Constitution as well as federal statutes enacted by Congress and state statutes adopted in each particular state jurisdiction which means that any person accused of a crime has some basic rights such as due process under the 14th Amendment or protection from cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th Amendment among others depending on the jurisdiction.