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Sex offenses (rape, child molestation, date rape, indecent exposure); drug offenses (selling and using); white collar crimes (embezzlement, forgery, credit card fraud, computer hacking); violent offenses (assault, robbery, murder, kidnapping, hit and run)—these acts are not just the stuff of movies and novels. Unfortunately, these are criminal actions that take place regularly in American society. Criminal law is the process in which the state prosecutes an individual for committing such crimes. Typically, crimes are actions that are disapproved of by American society and society and the courts have made these unapproved actions criminal offenses. Criminal vs. Civil Law Criminal law differs from civil law in that criminal law seeks punishment (punitive damages) beyond the cost of the actual damages. Civil law can only seek compensatory, or actual monetary, damages. Criminal offenses are defined differently from state to state; however, the American Law Institute created the Model Penal Code, which serves as a guideline for all states. Continued... By Kathleen Goolsby