Criminal Law Basics Lesson goal

Criminal Law Basics

Lesson goal

CRIMINAL LAW BASICS

To provide an introduction to the basics of criminal law

in Virginia.

Students will learn:

CRIMINAL LAW BASICS

How crimes are defined in Virginia law:

• What felonies and misdemeanors are
• How penalties for violating laws are classified and defined
• Hidden consequences for committing a crime

How crimes are defined

CRIMINAL LAW BASICS

A crime is an act that violates the law either:

• By doing something the law says you are not to do, or
• By not doing something the law says you must do.

Reminder

CRIMINAL LAW BASICS

Remember, even if a person doesn’t know the law, if he or she breaks the law, he or she is guilty of a crime. The statement “ignorance of the law is no excuse” is an ancient legal doctrine.

Where laws originate

CRIMINAL LAW BASICS

Laws are enacted by our representatives at the federal, state, and local levels.

Enacting laws involves a process that allows us to have input.

Laws generally represent the rules that we, as a people, think people should live by.

Classes of crime

CRIMINAL LAW BASICS

Crimes are organized into two main classifications: felonies and misdemeanors.

• A felony is a serious crime punishable by death or a term of imprisonment in a state or federal prison for at least one year and a possible fine.
• A misdemeanor is a lesser crime punishable by local jail time of not more than one year and/or a possible fine. Some offenses may either be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances surrounding the crime and the degree of the criminal act.

Punishment for felonies

CRIMINAL LAW BASICS

Felonies are classified into categories called classes.

• Punishment for a Class 1 Felony: Death