Criminal is a topic that interests many people and it is often the subject of popular television shows. The word criminal may evoke images of murderers, rapists and thieves but the fact is that anyone who breaks the law can be considered a criminal. This includes tax evaders, speeders and those who simply fail to pay their traffic tickets.
The legal system classifies crimes into three levels: felonies, misdemeanors and infractions. Generally, felonies are the most serious crimes and can lead to prison sentences. They are distinguished from other types of crime by the severity of the offense and the presence or absence of violence. Examples of felony crimes include murder, arson and burglary.
In the United States, criminal cases are tried by jury. The trial process begins with the judge and attorneys questioning potential jurors during a court hearing called voir dire. This is done with the objective of selecting an impartial and capable jury to consider trial evidence in a criminal case. In the US, all jury verdicts in criminal trials must be unanimous. A hung jury would result in a mistrial and a retrial.
The criminal justice system consists of the agencies that investigate and prosecute crimes as well as the detention and supervision of those who have been arrested for committing a crime. These systems have existed in some form for centuries and they are designed to maintain a society’s rule of law. Criminal justice is closely related to criminology, which studies criminal behavior on both the individual and societal level. Criminologists are concerned with understanding what drives criminals, how to best prevent crime and rehabilitate offenders.