Criminal Law

Criminal law is intended to enforce social control by discouraging behaviour that is harmful to societal well being, as well as behaviour that challenges the government's authority and legitimacy. Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of statutory and common law that deals with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offenses. Criminal law has been seen as a system of regulating the behavior of individuals and groups in relation to societal norms. Criminal law involves prosecution by the government of a person for an act that has been classified as a crime.