Criminal Law

Criminal law guides covering the elements of crimes, criminal defenses, trial procedure, evidence rules, sentencing guidelines, and constitutional protections for the accused.

Articles in this section

Elements of Crime: Actus Reus, Mens Rea, and Criminal Liability Learn the essential elements of a crime — actus reus, mens rea, concurrence, and causation — that prosecutors must prove … 8 min Criminal Defense Strategies: Building a Strong Case for the Accused Explore the most effective criminal defense strategies — affirmative defenses, constitutional challenges, evidentiary … 8 min Criminal Procedure Overview: From Arrest to Appeal Follow the criminal procedure timeline from arrest through trial and appeal — covering bail hearings, preliminary … 8 min Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: The Highest Standard of Proof Understand the beyond a reasonable doubt standard — its history, meaning, application in criminal trials, and role in … 7 min Plea Bargaining Guide: How Plea Deals Work in Criminal Cases Learn how plea bargaining works in the criminal justice system — including charge negotiations, sentence … 8 min Sentencing Guidelines: How Criminal Sentences Are Determined Explore how sentencing guidelines work in criminal cases — including the federal sentencing grid, mandatory minimums, … 7 min White Collar Crime: Fraud, Embezzlement, and Financial Offenses Understand white collar crime law — including fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, money laundering, and the … 8 min Violent Crime Law: Homicide, Assault, Robbery, and Related Offenses Explore the laws governing violent crimes — including homicide degrees, assault and battery, robbery, arson, kidnapping, … 8 min Drug Crime Law: Possession, Trafficking, and Federal Drug Offenses Learn about drug crime law in the United States — including possession, trafficking, manufacturing, federal sentencing, … 7 min Juvenile Justice: The Legal System for Minors in Criminal Court Understand the juvenile justice system — including delinquency proceedings, transfer to adult court, juvenile rights, … 8 min Evidence Law Guide: Rules of Evidence in Criminal Trials Learn the rules of evidence in criminal trials — including relevance, hearsay, character evidence, expert testimony, the … 8 min Miranda Rights Guide: Understanding Your Right to Remain Silent Learn about Miranda rights — when police must give Miranda warnings, what happens if they don't, how to invoke your … 8 min Bail Bond System: How Bail Works in Criminal Cases Learn how the bail bond system operates in criminal cases — including the types of bail, how bondsmen work, factors … 8 min Grand Jury Guide: How Grand Juries Work in Criminal Cases Learn how grand juries function in the criminal justice system — including their role in issuing indictments, the … 8 min Appeal Process Criminal: How to Appeal a Criminal Conviction Learn how the criminal appeal process works — including grounds for appeal, the appellate brief, standards of review, … 8 min Victim Rights Law: Legal Protections for Crime Victims Explore the legal rights of crime victims — including the right to notice, to be heard at proceedings, to restitution, … 8 min Self-Defense Law: When You Can Legally Use Force to Protect Yourself Understand self-defense law — including the duty to retreat, stand your ground, the Castle Doctrine, the use of deadly … 8 min Criminal Records Expungement: How to Clear Your Criminal Record Learn how criminal record expungement works — including eligibility requirements, the petition process, which offenses … 8 min