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A defendant who has been found guilty of a crime may “appeal” his or her case, requesting that a higher court hear it. The appeals process may take a case from a local district court, to the Supreme C [..]

The procedure in which an accused person is brought before the court to answer charges. The accused may admit guilt or plea “not guilty.” If the accused pleas “not guilty,” a date for trial will be ar [..]

By posting bail an accused person (or a relative, spouse, associate, or friend of an accused person) secures his or her release from jail while awaiting trial. Bail money is held to guarantee that the [..]

Capital punishment, or “the death penalty,” may be used as a punishment for persons who have committed capital offenses such as first-degree murder and treason. In the United States the death penalty [..]

Civil law differs from criminal law in that:

Some juvenile crime cases may fall under the jurisdiction of both the juvenile court system and the criminal court system. In such cases the prosecutor is allowed to choose where the case will be trie [..]

If a person fails to act in accordance with the law, he or she has committed a crime. State and federal laws determine what constitutes a crime. Minor offenses are referred to as misdemeanors and majo [..]

Criminal law is concerned with cases in which a crime has been committed. Criminal cases are brought to trial by the state or the federal government, and criminal offenses may be punished by fines and [..]

Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is considered a criminal act in the United States. A person found guilty of driving under the influence stands to lose his or her license, be fined, [..]