Criminal law is defined as the criminal justice system that handles crimes against property, people, and social order.  A crime is a type of conduct or action that a society and its government deems dangerous to its citizens.  Crimes are made punishable by penalties such as fines and imprisonment.  Irvine criminal defense lawyers work to prove you innocent of crimes, or to minimize the severity of your punishment.

The criminal justice system focuses on the following two types of law:

• Statutory law.  This type of law is based on the ideals that founded our laws. 

• Case law.  This is the written form of law, also referred to as penal code.  The penal code is further divided into two types—substantive and procedural.  Substantive law addresses the nature of the crime and how to punish the crime fairly.  Procedural law refers to the appropriate procedures that should be used in the judicial process of a criminal case.

Within the criminal justice system, the accused is considered innocent until proven guilty, and is entitled to certain fundamental rights.  For example, anyone who is charged with a crime has the right to a lawyer.  Consult your Irvine criminal defense attorney to make sure your rights are protected.

The majority of criminal cases fall into one of the following two categories:

• Misdemeanor.  A misdemeanor is generally a crime that is punishable by at most one year in prison. 

• Felony.  This is a more serious crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison. 

Criminal law firms and attorneys work to increase the chances that the charges you face are categorized as a lesser crime. 

Experienced criminal defense attorneys in Irvine