criminal law
Simple Definition of criminal law
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: laws that deal with crimes and their punishments
Full Definition of criminal law
: the law of crimes and their punishments
1769
First Known Use of criminal law
1769
Law Dictionary
criminal law
Legal Definition of criminal law
: public law that deals with crimes and their prosecution — compare civil law
Additional Notes on criminal law
Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and procedural criminal law sets down criminal procedure. Substantive criminal law was originally common law for the most part. It was later codified and is now found in federal and state statutory law.
Learn More about criminal law
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Britannica English: Translation of criminal law for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about criminal law
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