criminal law

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criminal law Body of law that defines crimes, lays down rules of procedure for dealing with them, and establishes penalties for those convicted. Broadly, a crime is distinguished from a tort by being deemed injurious to the state. In many countries the criminal law has been codified. Among the best-known modern codes are the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (1532) promulgated by Charles II for the Holy Roman Empire, Joseph II's code for Austria (1786), and the Code Napoléon. Criminal law remains part of common law, although since the 18th century it has been greatly added to by statute law.

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