Thursday, May 23, 2013 9:00 PM EST

Criminal Law

Criminal law, or penal law, is the bodies of rules with the potential for severe impositions as punishment for failure to comply. Criminal punishment, depending on the offense and jurisdiction, may include execution, loss of liberty, government supervision (parole or probation), or fines. There are some archetypal crimes, like murder, but the acts that are forbidden are not wholly consistent between different criminal codes, and even within a particular code lines may be blurred as civil infractions may give rise also to criminal consequences. Criminal law typically is enforced by the government, unlike the civil law, which may be enforced by private parties.

Headlines Around the Web

Articles About Criminal Law

Barbara Hewson has been critisised for her comments about Stuart Hall's conviction (Hardwicke Chambers /Reuters)
Lawyer Calls for Age of Consent to be Lowered to 13 to End Celebrity 'Witchhunt'

By IBTimes UK

Barbara Hewson says age should be lowered to stop celebrities like Stuart Hall being persecuted for "misdemeanours". (May 09)

MORE TOPICS: HUMAN RIGHTS, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, LAWYER, LONDON

Man Screaming
The Ultimate Ball Buster: Woman 'Killed Man By Squeezing His Testicles'

By IBTimes UK

The trial for a woman accused of killing a man by squeezing his testicles in China last year has begun on Monday, 8 April. (Apr 23)

MORE TOPICS: CHINA

Exclusive: Risk ranking: China revamps anti-money laundering rules - sources

By Reuters

Chinese banks must rate their clients' risk of criminal conduct on a scale of 1-5 as part of the central bank's moves to curb money laundering and fraudulent transactions estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars a year. (Apr 18)

MORE TOPICS: CHINA, HSBC, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, UNITED NATIONS, MEXICO

Exclusive - Risk ranking: China revamps anti-money laundering rules: sources

By Reuters UK

Chinese banks must rate their clients' risk of criminal conduct on a scale of 1-5 as part of the central bank's moves to curb money laundering and fraudulent transactions estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars a year. (Apr 18)

MORE TOPICS: CHINA, HSBC, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, UNITED NATIONS, MEXICO

Ryan Ackroyd aka Kayla
Anonymous UK Hacktivist Ryan Ackroyd Pleads Guilty

By IBTimes UK

Ryan Ackroyd from South Yorkshire has pleaded guilty to being part of a group which carried out cyber-attacks on Sony and the NHS. (Apr 10)

MORE TOPICS: COURT, ARIZONA, SONY, FBI, LONDON

Delhi Gang-Rape
Crime Against Women: India Fails to Protect Foreign Tourists

By IBTimes IN

There is a Sanskrit adage, "Atithi Devo Bhava," meaning "the guest is truly your god", which depicts India's hospitality towards guests, but it seems to exist only on papers today, as even tourists are not spared from sexual assaults. (Mar 25)

MORE TOPICS: INDIA

7-year-old Raped in Delhi’s Municipal School; Protestors Pelt Stones, Damage Bus
Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2013: 'Prostitution' Omitted From Anti-Rape Law

By IBTimes IN

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2013, which was passed in Parliament last week, has omitted prostitution under exploitation forms, overturning the amendment proposed in the government ordinance. (Mar 25)

MORE TOPICS: INDIA, LAWYER

Geoff Webster was appointed joint deputy editor of The Sun in 2009 (Reuters)
Operation Elveden: Sun Deputy Editor Geoff Webster Charged over Alleged Payments to Public Officials

By IBTimes UK

News International executive charged with two counts of authorising buying information from public officials. (Mar 20)

MORE TOPICS: COURT

New Delhi gang rape protests
Ram Singh Commits Suicide: Timeline of Delhi Gang Rape Case

By IBTimes IN

The prime accused in the Delhi Gang rape cum murder case, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself to the grill of his cell on Monday. (Mar 11)

MORE TOPICS: COURT, INDIA

7-year-old Raped in Delhi’s Municipal School; Protestors Pelt Stones, Damage Bus
International Women's Day 2013: India Battles Rape and Sexual Assault; New Criminal Law May be Best Gift

By IBTimes IN

The world observes March 8 as International Women's Day, and the United Nations has chosen the theme, "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women", for this year. (Mar 08)

MORE TOPICS: HUMAN RIGHTS, UNITED NATIONS, INDIA