Legal Definitions - criminal law

Criminal law is a system of laws that deals with crimes and the punishment of individuals who commit crimes. It is different from civil law, which deals with disputes between two parties over their rights. In criminal law, the government decides whether to punish an individual for an act or omission that violates a law prohibiting said action or omission.

• Robbery
• Murder
• Assault
• Drug trafficking

These examples illustrate criminal law because they are all acts that are prohibited by law and can result in punishment by the government.

Every crime involves three elements:

1. The act or conduct (actus reus)
2. The individual's mental state at the time of the act (mens rea)
3. The causation between the act and the effect (typically either proximate causation or but-for causation)

The government has the burden of proof to establish every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

There are several defenses available to a defendant in a criminal prosecution:

• Failure of proof
• Mistakes
• Justifications
• Excuses

These defenses can be used to argue that the defendant did not commit the crime or that they should not be punished for it.

Criminal law is a system of laws that deals with crimes and their punishment. It involves three elements of a crime, and there are several defenses available to a defendant in a criminal prosecution. Examples of crimes include robbery, murder, assault, and drug trafficking.