Criminal law is a set of rules that have been decided by the government, establishing actions that are considered harmful to human life as opposed to civil law, which are generally lack of violence and dangerous. This will include danger threats, body injury and obscene sexual acts. This determines not only evil but also punishment. In many cases, punishment is decided in a way that is in accordance with committed crimes. In other cases, the sentence has been mandated by state or federal law. Civil problems and white collar crime are handled by a separate division.

Enforcement of this law is carried out at the state level. At one time, criminal law and civil law are considered together but today they are separate and different. This crime of violence and offensive is separated because they hold very serious consequences when the law is damaged.

Each different type of crime has its own unique characteristics, elements that separate them from other crimes. The most serious crime will be punished by death or death penalty. Physical punishment, such as caning, has been banned in most of the world, although still practiced in several places.

In general, even for this very serious crime, the sentence is the time of detention or prison. The increase in time presented in prison will depend on evil and can be from one hour to life. The sentence will always depend on evil.

Some judges will reduce sentences that allow parole or probation. Conditional liberation is when the government allows Felon to be punished to live outside the prison after they serve satisfying time behind bars. They will then undergo a trial period, which is the supervision that the government will protect the former prisoners until then consider suitable to live among normal people without being monitored for criminal activities.

Often there is a fine charged for crime. People can have their homes and property confiscated to pay this fine, even if they serve time in prison, too.

There are five objectives to enforce this law. They are retribution, inability, restitution, rehabilitation and prevention. The main objective was abandoned on differences of opinion about the community and judges who continued the sentence. They will determine which one is in accordance with a particular situation. Retribution is usually the main goal. That means making criminal paying his actions. They have committed their crimes and they have to pay it in a certain way. This is an eye for the eye effect.

The inability is the goal of judges who need to distance this person from everyone so they are no longer a threat. This usually consists of prison or death. Restitution is taking from them and gives to the victim or their government, usually monetary through a fine. Rehabilitation is often recommended in civilian problems but is generally accepted that violent criminals will experience difficulties with him. The final of the aim of this criminal law is prevention. This can be done at the individual or group level. Prevention focuses on imposing other costs or punishments to someone or a group of people to keep other people take the same action.