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{{merge from|Criminal offense}}

{{merge from|Criminal offense}}

{{merge from|Criminal Law}}

{{merge from|Criminal Law}}

Crimes are committed by criminals. They can be individuals, groups, corporations, or governments. They can be fought by individuals (taking the law into one's own hands - which in some instances can be a crime in itself), militias, mob rule, or by the [[police]].

A '''crime''' is an act that is in violation of a [[Criminal Law|criminal law]]. An act that merely violates a [[civil law]] is not a crime, although it may be a [[tort]]. It is possible for an act to be covered by both criminal and civil laws; an example is [[assault]].  An act in violation of [[God]]'s law is called a [[sin]].

Where crime has been committed, a criminal may be identified, accused, and taken to a court of law. Courts require [[evidence]] in order to proceed to the matter to a trial. If the court is convinced that the accused criminal has committed the crime, it may judge the criminal guilty of the crime and issue a punishment. This may include restitution, fines, [[community service]], a prison sentence, or death. A crime punishable by death is known as a [[capital crime]].

Crimes are committed by criminals. They can be individuals, groups, [[corporation]]s, or [[governments]]. They can be fought by individuals (taking the law into one's own hands - which in some instances can be a crime in itself), militias, mob rule, or by the [[police]].

Certain crimes, including genocide, can be classed as war crime. These are usually heard by a military tribunal or the International Criminal Court.

Where crime has been committed, a criminal may be identified, accused, and taken to a court of law. Courts require [[evidence]] in order to proceed to the matter to a [[trial]]. If the court is convinced that the accused criminal has committed the crime, it may judge the criminal guilty of the crime and issue a punishment. This may include restitution, fines, [[community service]], a prison sentence, or death. A crime punishable by death is known as a [[capital crime]].

The causes of crime are debated and sometimes politicized. Greed, poverty, boredom, and mental illness have all been suggested.

Certain crimes, including [[genocide]] (see also [[Holocaust]]), can be classed as [[war crime]]. These are usually heard by a [[military]] tribunal or the International Criminal Court.

Over time a given act can be legal, then declared a crime (criminalization), then made legal again (decriminalization). One example is the consumption of [[alcohol]] in the context of [[Prohibition]]. Throughout the world, debates exist over the criminal status of various activities, such as [[prostitution]] and [[marijuana]] cultivation.

The causes of crime are debated and sometimes politicized. [[Greed]], [[poverty]], boredom, and [[mental illness]] have all been suggested.

The determination of a crime is ultimately subject to a given nation's [[Constitution]]. If the determination is considered unconstitutional, its declaration can be overturned.

 

The determination of a crime is ultimately subject to a given nation's [[Constitution]]. If the determination is considered [[unconstitutional]], its declaration can be overturned.

==Criminology==

==Criminology==

==See also==

==See also==

 

* [[Accuracy In Media]]

*[[Accuracy In Media]]

* [[Organized crime]]

*[[Organized crime]]

* [[War crime]]

*[[War crime]]

 

==External Links==

==External Links==