criminal law

noun

: the law of crimes and their punishments

Examples of criminal law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If a visa holder is charged with violating immigration or criminal law, the case often goes before a judge who then has to decide whether the person violated the visa’s terms. —Simone Weichselbaum, NBC News, 13 Aug. 2024

Fico, who returned to power in October, has turned the country's foreign policy toward Russia and initiated changes in criminal law and the media rights that have raised concerns in the West. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024

Schumer will introduce legislation that would reaffirm that presidents and vice presidents do not have legal immunity from actions that violate federal criminal law. —Stephen Neukam, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024

On Monday, President Joe Biden announced three proposals to reform the Supreme Court: term limits for justices, a binding code of Supreme Court ethics, and a constitutional amendment overturning the Court’s decision allowing sitting presidents to violate the criminal law. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 29 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

criminal law

noun

: public law that deals with crimes and their prosecution compare civil law

Note: Substantive criminal law defines crimes, and procedural criminal law sets down criminal procedure. Substantive criminal law was originally common law for the most part. It was later codified and is now found in federal and state statutory law.