1: Introduction to Criminal Law
- Page ID
- 17466
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 1.0: Prelude to Introduction to Criminal Law
- This page emphasizes the principle of fairness in constitutional law, highlighting the necessity for individuals to be informed about actions leading to punishment and the severity of penalties by the State. It references the legal case BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore to illustrate this principle.
- 1.1: Introduction
- This page provides an overview of the U.S. legal system, focusing on criminal law, including crime definitions, elements, and the role of government in law-making. It highlights the variability of laws across states and acknowledges that laws change with societal evolution. The page encourages an open-minded approach to diverse legal interpretations and defines a crime as an act against a law, stressing the importance of current state laws in understanding criminal behavior.
- 1.2: Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
- This page clarifies the difference between criminal law, which defines rights and obligations regarding specific crimes, and criminal procedure, which focuses on the enforcement of these rights in the criminal justice process. It uses examples such as shoplifting and police conduct to highlight legal and rights-related issues, emphasizing the significance of understanding both concepts.
- 1.3: The Difference between Civil and Criminal Law
- This page explains the distinctions between civil and criminal law, noting that civil law addresses private disputes and aims to compensate victims, while criminal law involves state offenses and seeks to punish wrongdoers. It provides examples, such as Steven's criminal actions against Bob, and contrasts the legal processes of criminal prosecution versus civil litigation, using the O.J. Simpson case to illustrate differing standards of proof and outcomes.
- 1.4: Classification of Crimes
- This page provides an overview of crime classifications based on severity: felonies (most serious), misdemeanors (less severe), felony-misdemeanors (prosecuted as either), and infractions (least serious). It discusses potential punishments ranging from prison time to fines and distinguishes between jail and prison operations.
- 1.5: The Purposes of Punishment
- This page discusses the five purposes of punishment in the criminal justice system: deterrence (specific and general), incapacitation, rehabilitation, retribution, and restitution. Specific deterrence aims to prevent individual reoffending, while general deterrence seeks to dissuade the public. Incapacitation removes offenders from society, rehabilitation aims to change behaviors, retribution offers justice for victims, and restitution involves compensating victims financially.
- 1.6: Sources of Law
- This page outlines three sources of law: constitutional law, statutory law, and case law, detailing their hierarchy and functions. It emphasizes the establishment of criminal procedures, highlights significant cases like Keeler v. Superior Court, and discusses judicial review and the doctrine of stare decisis in shaping legal precedents.
- 1.7: End-of-Chapter Material
- This page discusses the distinction between criminal law and procedure, highlighting the role of civil lawsuits and government-led criminal prosecutions. It covers the categorization of crimes, legal origins, and judicial review. Additionally, it touches on a US Supreme Court ruling against prisoners' First Amendment rights, Justice Scalia's dissent, and the special protections for criminal defendants compared to civil ones.