Find a Criminal Law -- Federal Lawyer

Criminal law is the body of law that legislates punishment for those who commit crimes against individuals, corporations or the government. Crimes are defined as those acts that are unlawful as dictated by federal statutes or common law. Generally, those found guilty of crimes are punished with imprisonment, fines, or other penalties. Federal criminal law is defined both by the federal judiciary system and by Congress. Some crimes are exclusively federal offenses; others are punishable by both the state and federal systems. In federal criminal cases, charges are brought against the accused party by the government. Bringing charges means that a person is being formally accused of a crime. The prosecution attorney of a criminal case works for the government and has the responsibility for working with a grand jury in determining whether charges should be filed, what the charges should be and then when the case goes to court proving “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the person accused of the crime did, in fact, commit it. Criminal defense attorneys represent the people accused of crimes. In the United States, federal court cases for prosecuting people convicted of crimes must follow certain procedures. Title 18 is the federal criminal code that specifies many of these procedures; they are designed to protect the rights of those accused of crimes. The federal government also has detailed regulations to handle evidence and how it must be handled and presented in criminal cases. Continued... By Ann MacDonald