Criminal law is defined at both the state and federal level of American government. In the United States, "most crimes ...are established by local, state, and federal governments," with the exception of common law crimes ("Criminal Law" 2010). There are some definition of crimes that vary significantly from state to state, but for the most part states confer to the Model Penal Code. Criminal law is the aspect of government that focuses on the prosecution of acts defined as crimes at the local, state, or federal level.

Criminal law therefore invokes constitutional clauses such as the due process of law. Individual citizens have the right to legal representation and are theoretically equally protected under the law. Criminal law therefore serves several distinct and sometimes conflicting fronts: the prosecutor (usually the local, state, or federal government); the victim of the crime; and the defendant or accused.

When a crime is perpetrated,...
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