Law & Crime is the home for binge-worthy law enforcement series and original primetime programming. Founded by Dan Abrams, host and legal analyst of the hit SiriusXM show Where Politics Meets the Law and formerly of Nightline, Law&Crime Productions generates content for Hulu, Netflix, A+E, Discovery ID, Fox and others.
Criminal law refers to behavior that is construed as an offense against society, as opposed to just the victim (like murder or theft). Both state and federal governments have the power to make criminal laws. Each one decides what sorts of conduct to criminalize, and creates its own statutes based on common law.
To be convicted of a crime, an individual must have committed every element of the crime as defined by the statute. These elements include the act or omission itself, the person’s mental state at the time of the crime, and the link between the actus reus and the result (typically proximate causation or but-for causation). Generally, crimes are classified as either violent or nonviolent. Violent crimes involve the use of force or threat of force. Examples are rape, murder and burglary. Nonviolent crimes involve the destruction or theft of property without using force. Examples are arson and larceny. Criminal cases and convictions go to Criminal Court while civil cases usually involve disputes between private individuals, corporations or agencies like the government.
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