What is Criminal Law

Criminal law is a branch of law which concerns crimes which are committed against the public authority. It is distinct from civil law, which involves crimes which people commit against each other, not not necessarily against the public as a whole. Murder, for example, is covered under criminal law, because although there is a specific victim, murder in general runs against the interests of the public. By contrast, if someone fails to honor a contract, this is a matter for civil law.
Substantive criminal law deals with the definitions of various crimes which are covered by the criminal code, while procedural criminal law is concerned with the prosecution of said crimes. Procedural law may also include sentencing recommendations which are designed to be used in the event that a victim is convicted of committing a crime. Under many criminal codes, convictions can only be obtained when the prosecution proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused did indeed commit the crime.

Three broad types of crimes appear in the criminal code: misdemeanors, felonies, and treason. Treason is of particular concern because it not only violates the public interest, but also threatens national security and the welfare of the nation itself, which is why treason is accompanied with such severe penalties. Misdemeanors are relatively minor crimes under criminal law, while felonies are more serious crimes which may accompanied with severe mandatory sentences.