Practice Areas

Criminal Law

Criminal law establishes the acceptable limits of conduct within a society. The term criminal law refers to the set of criminal laws themselves and to how criminal procedure works.

A crime is defined as any behavior that is punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. In the U.S., Congress or a state legislative body defines which behaviors are criminal acts. These are usually acts that are considered unacceptable by the rest of society.

There are two major types of crime: felonies and misdemeanors. The difference between these two types of crime is defined by the potential punishment for committing them.

A felony is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for longer than one year. Common felonies include murder, robbery, treason, rape, and kidnapping.

A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for a year or less. Common misdemeanors include petty theft, DUI, and minor in possession of alcohol.

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