Criminal law

Criminal law defines prohibited conduct, authorizes penalties, and governs the state’s prosecution of people accused of offenses.

Actus reus: The voluntary act or legally significant omission required for criminal liability. It identifies the conduct criminal law must connect to an offense.
Criminal procedure: The rules governing investigation, prosecution, trial, and review of criminal cases. It supplies the procedural framework for enforcing criminal prohibitions.
Civil law: The body of law governing disputes and obligations between individuals, organizations, and sometimes governments. Civil cases usually seek remedies for injured parties rather than state-imposed punishment.
Incarceration: The confinement of a person in a prison or other custodial institution. Imprisonment is among the most severe penalties criminal courts impose.
Mens rea: The mental state required for a criminal offense, such as intent, knowledge, or recklessness. It distinguishes culpable conduct from conduct lacking the offense’s required state of mind.
Police investigation: The collection and analysis of evidence by law-enforcement agencies concerning suspected offenses. Investigations produce the evidence that can lead to arrest and prosecution.
Tort law: The law governing civil liability for harm caused by wrongful conduct. One act can trigger both tort damages and criminal prosecution, under different standards.
Capital punishment: The state’s execution of a person as punishment for a crime. It is the most irreversible sanction authorized by some criminal justice systems.
Causation: The legal and factual connection between an action and a resulting harm. Result-based crimes require proof that the accused caused the prohibited outcome.
Prosecutor: A public official who brings and conducts criminal cases on behalf of the state. Prosecutors decide whether and how to pursue alleged violations.

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