What is Criminal Law?
Criminal law, as distinguished from civil law, is a system of laws concerned with punishment of individuals who commit crimes. Thus, where in a civil case two individuals dispute their rights, a criminal prosecution involves the government deciding whether to punish an individual for either an act or an omission.
A “crime” is any act or omission in violation of a law prohibiting the action or omission.
Criminal Codes
Each state decides what conduct to designate a crime. Thus, each state has its own criminal code. Congress has also chosen to punish certain conduct, codifying federal criminal law in Title 18 of the U.S. Code. Criminal laws vary significantly among the states and the federal government. While some statutes resemble the common law criminal code, others, like the New York Penal Law, closely mimic the Model Penal Code (MPC).
Read more: Legal Information Institute
At Haynes Law Group, we understand that it is important to have an advocate there to fight on your behalf and ensure that your rights are protected, while justice and mercy prevail.
The more an attorney understands your case; the facts, the mitigating circumstances; and your character, the better he or she can investigate and negotiate the most favorable outcome permissible or else fight for your innocence at trial.