A crime is a wrongdoing prohibited by the law, which may be punished and lead to imprisonment or loss of freedom. Criminal law contains complex laws and procedures that define established penalties for crimes and criminal acts, and outline the rules governing criminal procedures. First, the field of criminal law involves individuals accused or convicted of crimes. Federal legislators and states define crimes and their punishments in regulations.

Criminal Law and Civil Law

Although criminal acts may cause harm to the entire society, not just harm to private parties, civil litigation affects the behavior of one party to the contract in violation of the requirements of the contract. In criminal law, prosecutors (government lawyers) represent the federal government or the state to bring criminal charges against the accused. On the other hand, civil lawsuits are initiated by private lawyers to resolve disputes between private parties. The result of a civil lawsuit may change to the legal status of one party, such as custody or divorce or payment of damages, while criminal charges may result in fines or imprisonment.

Type of crime

The method used to classify crime depends on the severity of the crime. Therefore, the crime can be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony:

· Misdemeanor-An offence punishable by imprisonment for less than one year is a misdemeanor. Examples of such crimes include vandalism, petty theft and careless driving.

· A felony-a felony is a crime punishable by more than one year's imprisonment or the death penalty. It involves crimes that can cause fatal bodily harm, such as attacks or murders with dangerous weapons.

· Violation-A violation or violation is a minor violation and is considered a minor violation, such as a violation of traffic laws. Since violations result in fines, imprisonment is not allowed.

The punishment in the statute under which the defendant is convicted determines whether the conviction is a misdemeanor or a felony, rather than the actual punishment imposed. The state subdivides misdemeanor and felony into different degrees to distinguish the seriousness of crimes.

Constitutional restrictions in criminal law

The criminal law is restricted by the constitution. In particular, the Constitution stipulates the right of the accused to be protected from unfair treatment. These rights include the right to open and expeditious trials, the right to obtain a lawyer, the right to prove one's guilt, and the right to obtain a lawyer.