Full Definition of Criminal Law

Criminal law underlines the rules of law established by state and federal governments to set a standard of conduct for people to obey. Any action or failure to act in violation of a law commanding or forbidding it is classified a "crime".

In Criminal Defense Law, the suit is initiated by the state or federal government through a prosecutor rather than being initiated by the victim, as it is in civil law. Plaintiffs in a civil law suit only need to show by a preponderance of the evidence that a defendant is 51% or more liable (responsible) for the damages. But, the prosecutor in a criminal defense law case has to prove to the judge or jury "beyond the shadow of a doubt" that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.