Criminal Law
Welcome to the GetLegal Criminal Law Center! Here, we introduce you to the fundamental concepts of criminal law. In this field, not knowing the law or not knowing your rights can have a serious impact, so we offer accurate and up-to-date content on a broad range of topics, from the ways that crimes are defined and classified to specific defenses. An attorney can help you to protect yourself if you become involved in the criminal justice system. But working with an attorney will be easier if you first understand some of the basics. Watch the video on the left for a quick tour of what you’ll find here.
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Criminal Law Basics
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor? When can a police officer search your car? When can a criminal record be sealed or expunged? Our overview of the basics provides answers to all of these questions and more. Learn about the law by clicking on one of the topics below.
Criminal Law Practice Areas
Latest Article
What Does Homicide Mean?
How Does the Law Define Homicide? What Are the Different Types of Homicide? What Defenses Are Available for a Homicide C... Read More
What Is Third-Degree Murder?
How Does It Differ From Other Types of Homicide? What Are the Potential Penalties? In the vast majority of states, ther... Read More
The Constitutional Prohibition Against Double Jeopardy
What Is the Source of the Rule? What Are the Basic Protections It Provides? The United States Constitution provides ext... Read More
Resources for Further Research
If you want to learn more about criminal law, the internet offers a wealth of resources, but it can be hard to find the best and most accurate sources. To help you find the information that you need, we’ve compiled and organized a selection of the most notable online resources relating to criminal law.
General
- HG: Criminal Law
Links to criminal code for all 50 states. Also links to international resources, articles, and other information.
- Theories of Criminal Law
Excellent essay from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Justia, Criminal Law
Criminal law web resources including articles, laws, and glossary.
Types of crimes
- HG: White Collar Crime
Guide to white collar crime from HierosGamos.
- Drunkdrivingdefense.com
Links to DUI/DWI laws for all 50 states. Also links to information on breath testing, field sobriety tests, car accidents, alcoholism, and more.
- State Controlled Substance Acts
Links to drug laws of all 50 states.
- Gunlaws.com
Links to gun laws for all 50 states. Also links to gun advocacy groups.
- ABA Commission on Domestic Violence
Referrals to local shelters, news, research, and more.
Investigations
- PoliceOne
Comprehensive site for law enforcement information. Links to Police Products (articles and reviews of law enforcement equipment) as well as Research Topics (e.g., terrorism, SWAT, gangs, and evidence collection).
- Officer.com
News, features, forums, and more. The law center links to statutes, regulations, and more (e.g., office of the attorney general) for all 50 states.
Criminal justice
- National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Comprehensive directory of information on corrections, courts, crime prevention, drugs, juvenile justice, and more.
- Bureau of Justice Statistics
Gateway for statistics and analysis of U.S. crime and punishment.
- Wrongful Conviction and Innocence Projects
Links to innocence project reports, legislation, case profiles, bibliographies, and more.
- National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues.
- HG: Criminal Law
Criminal defense
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Links to general and state-specific criminal defense resources.
- Crimelynx
Huge collection of links for legal research, forensics, experts, investigations, public policy, and more.
- Practitioner's Corner
Hundreds of links for the defense practitioner, organized by topic.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
Encourages, at all levels of federal, state, and local governments, a rational and humane criminal justice policy for America.
Death penalty
- Death Penalty Information Center
Comprehensive resource for death penalty facts and discussion, including state-by-state information.
- WebWatch: Capital Punishment
Article that lists and discusses over 15 death penalty-related web sites.
- 1000+ Death Penalty Links
Annotated links ranging from the general (Public Opinion) to the specific (Karla Faye Tucker) to the bizarre (Death Penalty Humor and Curiosity).
Blogs
- CrimLaw
General criminal law blog.
- CrimProf Blog
Written by professor of criminal law.
- Judging Crimes
Blog about criminal law, violent crimes, and the judiciary.
- Sentencing Law and Policy
Links to U.S. and state sentencing commissions, as well as justice and death penalty sites.
- ABA Journal, White Collar Crime Blogs
Blogs related to White Collar Crime compiled by the ABA Journal.
- The Federal Criminal Appeals Blog
Blogs that keep readers up to date with criminal appeal news and updates.
- The Wrongful Conviction Blog
Blog dedicated to addressing wrongful conviction and actual innocence issues.
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Associations & agencies
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Links to federal drug statutes and penalties, as well as the schedules used in determining charges. Other links include legislative resources, publications, and an encyclopedia of drug information.
- U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
Regulations, publications, documents, and more from the USDOJ.
- National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG)
Links to information about all 50 state attorneys general.
- National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA)
Publications and resources about criminal justice.
- National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA)
Civil resources, defender resources, advocacy information, and more.
- American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section
Serves as a resource on issues in the forefront of change in the criminal justice arena.
Journals, news & articles
- American Criminal Law Review
Georgetown University's oft-cited law review. Lists articles published in each issue, though they are not in full text.
- The Advocate
Journal of criminal justice education and research. Full text archives back to 1978.
- CNN
Legal and crime-related news from CNN.
- Crime Time
Links to high-quality blogs and news sources pertaining to criminal law.
- The Journal of Criminal Law
Peer-reviewed, practical tool that provides detailed analysis of what is happening in the courts at every level.
- Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law
Provides a vital forum for the discussion of regional, national, and international criminal law issues.
Research guides
- Library of Congress, Criminal Law and Procedure Guide
Texts, organizations, and research guides to keep you up-to-date with criminal law and news.
- Georgetown University
Basic criminal law guide.
- Duke University
Guide to international criminal law.
- New England School of Law
Guide to resources on war crimes.
- Harvard Law School Library, Criminal Law Research Guide
Books and articles that explain and summarize the basics of criminal law.
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
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