Some people are unaware of the fact that there are different classifications of law. The law itself is broken down into different classifications and categories and each category covers an extensive array of laws and regulations. One such classification or category is criminal law. Criminal law itself is the set of acceptable limits of conduct in society. This is what people should and should not do. These are the rules and regulations that everyone in society is expected to follow. Criminal law itself does not demand that members of society perform any special acts; it outlines what they should not do. Each country has its own set of laws that people must follow. As well each country has its own set of punishments for those who break the law.
Criminal law itself consists of a variety of things. Criminal law consists primarily of the criminal laws themselves and the criminal procedures that must be followed. It also includes the legal rules defining criminal conduct and how it is punished.
Criminal law is also used to define what a crime is exactly. According to the criminal law, a crime is a wrong committed by a person against a state or federal government. Due to the fact that the crime is committed against all members of society and not just a particular individual or victim, the victim does not make the decision about whether or not to prosecute the criminal. A representative of the federal government or state makes this decision as laid out by the criminal law procedures for that state or country.
Under the classification of criminal law there are various types of crimes for which lawbreakers can be prosecuted. The first of these is felony. A felony an offense punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year or by death. Another type of crime as described under the criminal law is a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year or jail and fine. One of the more serious crimes that fall under the category of criminal law is assault. Assault is defined as an act that intentionally or recklessly causes another to apprehend immediate and unlawful personal violence.