13.2: Criminal Law
- Page ID
- 48458
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Criminal Law
Our interest in criminal law is both substantive and procedural. Substantive criminal laws are all the various laws that regulate the substance of society and apply to the general citizenry. Procedural criminal law is a smaller section of law that regulates how judicial and criminal justice agents administer the justice system.
Purposes of Criminal Law
There are five main purposes of criminal law. One purpose is the identification of public wrong. By putting in writing what we view as bad, it allows us to place limits on certain behaviors, such as drinking alcohol. By putting our laws in writing and allows all citizens to be aware of the expectations of our society. A second purpose is to allow the exertion of social control. By identifying behaviors that we deem criminal it allows government through the criminal justice system to enforce those same laws. A third purpose is the hope of deterring antisocial behavior. By telling citizens what is not allowed and warning them of the punishment which might follow it is hoped that most citizens will be law-abiding and choose not to commit crime. A fourth purpose is to clearly regulate the punishments that will be meted against those who commit crime. By making clear what the punishments might be it is hoped this will deter criminals and at the same time it will prevent the punishments from being excessive or arbitrary. The fifth purpose is to help maintain the social order. It is hoped that by showing the boundaries of acceptable behavior that most individuals in society will try to fit within those expectations. As society changes our laws can be adapted to adjust to those new types of deviant behavior so as to establish boundaries around these new behaviors such as computer crime, credit card fraud, and so on.
Two Types of Crime
In the eyes of the law, there are essentially two types of crime. The first type of crime is mala en se; crimes that are bad in and of themselves and that are evil or wrong by nature such as rape, murder, and aggravated assault. The second type of crime is referred to as mala prohibitum or crime that are bad that by definition, and they are bad because they are prohibited by the rules of government such as speeding or drinking under age. Previously, we had ranked crimes based on seriousness using the terms felony to indicate more serious crimes and misdemeanors to indicate those that are not as serious. Mala en se crimes are typically felonies and mala prohibitum crimes are often misdemeanors.
Corpus Delicti
This Latin term refers to the body of a crime. Legally speaking, to hold someone accountable for a crime, there must be a combination of two parts. The first part is known as actus reus—or the guilty act. Most people are aware that there must be a guilty act for crime to occur; however, conspiracy to commit a crime can also be considered a crime. Additionally, not acting when one had an obligation to act, such as a parent needing to feed their child, can also be considered a crime. The second part is known as mens rea, which refers to the guilty mind. In the eyes of the law, someone’s intent is very important. If someone is too young to understand that what he or she did is wrong than the law would not hold him or her accountable. Therefore, in the eyes of the law, it is important to have both of these aspects to make up an entire body of crime.