Criminal Justice

Our system of justice was designed carefully to prevent people from being unfairly convicted by guaranteeing many legal rights to anyone charged with a crime. For example, you have a right to have a lawyer present during police questioning. You have the right to remain silent to avoid incriminating yourself, which means that you do not have to answer any questions asked by police, and do not have to give evidence at trial. Just being aware of these rights will help you if you ever become involved in the criminal justice system.

How do civil and criminal law differ?
Civil matters are private matters, which involve the plaintiff suing the defendant for a money award, often in combination with other orders of the court, like an injunction to make a party stop a course of action. READ MORE.

What distinguishes a misdemeanor from a felony?
Each state has a body of criminal law that categorizes certain offenses as felonies and others as misdemeanors. Read More.

How do juvenile proceedings differ from adult criminal proceedings?
The jurisdiction of juvenile court varies by state. Juvenile courts usually hear cases involving persons between the ages of ten and eighteen. Not all states agree that the maximum age is eighteen; in New York, the age limit is sixteen, and in many other states it is sixteen. In some circumstances, even juveniles under the applicable age limit may be transferred to adult court. Read More.