Criminal Law Overview
Criminal Law Resources
Related Practice Areas
Overview
Criminal law addresses the government's prosecution of individuals who have committed an act classified as a crime. Federal, state, and local governments codify crimes and prosecute criminals. A prosecuting attorney represents the people of a particular jurisdiction, and acts on behalf of the government by bringing a case against an accused.
Show Extended SummaryDockets 
- SVENTEK v. VINCENT et al
Pennsylvania Western District Court
General
Filed: May 8, 2008
Petitioner: MARK J. SVENTEK, Respondent: MARDI L. VINCENT, SUP., THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
(May 7, 2008) - Reed v. USA
Missouri Western District Court
Motions to Vacate Sentence
Filed: May 8, 2008
Plaintiff: David Oliver Reed; Defendant: USA
(May 7, 2008) - Hicks v. Jones
Oklahoma Eastern District Court
General
Filed: May 8, 2008
Petitioner: Shaynathian R. Hicks Respondent: Justin Jones
(May 7, 2008) - Riddle v. Outlaw et al
Arkansas Eastern District Court
General
Filed: May 8, 2008
Plaintiff: Jackie L Riddle; Defendant: T C Outlaw, J Dodd
(May 7, 2008) - HOLLIDAY v. STATE OF FLORIDA
Florida Northern District Court
General
Filed: May 8, 2008
Petitioner: WILLIAM T HOLLIDAY, Respondent: STATE OF FLORIDA
(May 7, 2008)
Legislation 
- Bill Sent To President: H.R.1195 SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008
To amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to make technical corrections, and for other purposes.
April 30, 2008: Cleared for White House.
(April 28, 2008) - Bill Introduced: S.Res.534 A resolution designating the month of May 2008 as "National ...
A resolution designating the month of May 2008 as "National Drug Court Month".
(April 26, 2008) - Bill Introduced: S.Res.537 A resolution commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and ...
A resolution commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers.
(April 26, 2008) - Bill Introduced: H.Res.1149 Expressing support for the designation of April 2008 as National ...
Expressing support for the designation of April 2008 as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, and supporting efforts to devote new resources to research the causes of the disease, environmental and otherwise, along with treatments and workforce strategies to support individuals with sarcoidosis.
(April 22, 2008) - Bill Introduced: S.2917 Syria Accountability and Liberation Act
A bill to strengthen sanctions against the Government of Syria, to enhance multilateral commitment to address the Government of Syria's threatening policies, to establish a program to support a transition to a democratically-elected government in Syria, and for other purposes.
(April 22, 2008)
Regulations 
- Proposed Rule - Classification of Three Steroids as Schedule III Anabolic Steroids
Drug Enforcement Administration
Proposed Rule
Classification of Three Steroids as Schedule III Anabolic Steroids,
22294-22300 [E8-8842]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Drug Enforcement Administration 21 CFR Part 1300 [Docket No. DEA-285P] RIN 1117-AB17 Classification of Three Steroids as Schedule III Anabolic Steroids Under the Controlled Substances Act AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Justice. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to classify the following three steroids as ``anabolic steroids'' under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA): boldione,... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(April 24, 2008) - Proposed Rule - DNA-Sample Collection Under the DNA Fingerprint Act (of 2005) and the Adam ...
Department of Justice
Proposed Rule
DNA-Sample Collection Under the DNA Fingerprint Act (of 2005) and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (of 2006),
21083-21087 [E8-8339]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 28 CFR Part 28 [OAG 119; AG Order No. 2957-2008] RIN 1105-AB24 DNA-Sample Collection Under the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 AGENCY: Department of Justice. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The Department of Justice is publishing this proposed rule to implement amendments made by section 1004 of the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 and section 155 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 to section 3 of the... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(April 17, 2008) - Proposed Rule - Control of Immediate Precursor Used in Illicit Manufacture of Fentanyl as a ...
Drug Enforcement Administration
Proposed Rule
Control of Immediate Precursor Used in Illicit Manufacture of Fentanyl as a Schedule II Controlled Substance,
19175-19179 [E8-7391]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Drug Enforcement Administration 21 CFR Part 1308 [Docket No. DEA-305P] RIN 1117-AB16 Control of Immediate Precursor Used in the Illicit Manufacture of Fentanyl as a Schedule II Controlled Substance AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Justice. ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is proposing to designate the precursor chemical, 4-anilino-N-phenethyl-4-piperidine (ANPP) as an immediate precursor... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(April 8, 2008) - Proposed Rule - Information on Foreign Chain of Distribution for Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, ...
Drug Enforcement Administration
Proposed Rule
Information on Foreign Chain of Distribution for Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, and Phenylpropanolamine,
16793-16797 [E8-6357]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Drug Enforcement Administration 21 CFR Part 1313 [Docket No. DEA-295P] RIN 1117-AB07 Information on Foreign Chain of Distribution for Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, and Phenylpropanolamine AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Justice. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA), which was enacted on March 9, 2006, requires DEA to collect from importers of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(March 29, 2008) - Rule - Schedules of Controlled Substances: Exempt Anabolic Steroid Products
Drug Enforcement Administration
Rule
Schedules of Controlled Substances: Exempt Anabolic Steroid Products,
14178-14179 [E8-5173]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Drug Enforcement Administration 21 CFR Part 1308 [Docket No. DEA-289F] RIN 1117-AB04 Schedules of Controlled Substances: Exempt Anabolic Steroid Products AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Justice. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is finalizing an Interim Rule designating six pharmaceutical preparations as exempt anabolic steroid products under the Controlled Substances Act. This action is part of the ongoing... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(March 15, 2008)
Government 
- Notice - National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993: Open SystemC Initiative
Antitrust Division
Notice
National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993:
Open SystemC Initiative,
26415 [E8-10146]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993--Open SystemC Initiative Notice is hereby given that, on March 25, 2008, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (``the Act''), Open SystemC Initiative (``OSCI'') has filed written notifications simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission disclosing changes in its... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(May 8, 2008) - Notice - National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993: PXI SYSTEMS ALLIANCE, INC
Antitrust Division
Notice
National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993:
PXI SYSTEMS ALLIANCE, INC.,
26413 [E8-10133]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993--PXI Systems Alliance, Inc. Notice is hereby given that, on March 25, 2008, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (``the Act''), PXI Systems Alliance, Inc. has filed written notifications simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission disclosing changes in its membership. The... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(May 8, 2008) - Notice - National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993: Limo Foundation
Antitrust Division
Notice
National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993:
Limo Foundation,
26414 [E8-10135]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993--LiMo Foundation Notice is hereby given that, on March 27, 2008, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (``the Act''), LiMo Foundation (``LiMo'') filed written notifications simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission disclosing changes in its membership. The notifications... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(May 8, 2008) - Notice - National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993: IMS Global Learning ...
Antitrust Division
Notice
National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993:
IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc.,
26414 [E8-10143]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993--IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. Notice is hereby given that, on March 31, 2008, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (``the Act''), IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. has filed written notifications simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission disclosing changes in... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(May 8, 2008) - Notice - National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993: Green Building Certification ...
Antitrust Division
Notice
National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993:
Green Building Certification Institute,
26413-26414 [E8-10147]
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993--Green Building Certification Institute Notice is hereby given that, on March 27, 2008, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq. (``the Act''), Green Building Certification Institute (``GBCI'') has filed written notifications simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission... [read document]
View Document | Download PDF
(May 8, 2008)
Articles 
- Ethical Exception: Capital Punishment in the Figure of Sovereignty
South Atlantic Quarterly, Vol. 107, No. 3, July 2008 Adam Thurschwell Cleveland State University - Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Date Posted: May 7, 2008 Last Revised: May 9, 2008
(May 8, 2008) - The Sense and Nonsense of Criminalizing Transfers of Obscene Material
Singapore Law Review, Vol. 26, 2008 Dennis J. Baker Chinese University of Hong Kong - School of Law Date Posted: May 8, 2008 Last Revised: May 8, 2008
(May 7, 2008) - 'Genetic Surveillance' - The Bogeyman Response to Familial DNA Investigations
Widener Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 08-47 Jules Epstein Widener University - School of Law Date Posted: May 8, 2008 Last Revised: May 8, 2008
(May 7, 2008) - The Moral Limits of Consent as a Defense in the Criminal Law
New Criminal Law Review, Vol. 11, No. 3, 2008 Dennis J. Baker Chinese University of Hong Kong - School of Law Date Posted: May 8, 2008 Last Revised: May 8, 2008
(May 7, 2008) - They're an Illusion to Me Now: Forensic Ethics, Sanism and Pretextuality
PSYCHOLOGY AND LAW: BRIDGING THE GAP, David Canter and Rita Zukauskien, eds., 2008, NYLS Legal Studies Research Paper No. 07/08-27 Michael L. Perlin New York Law School Date Posted: May 8, 2008 Last Revised: May 8, 2008
(May 7, 2008)
News 
- Lawyer says slaying may not have been crime
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 6 hours ago
Outside court, Hoeft-Edenfield's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Tony Cheng, said he is reviewing "a number of conflicting statements as to what happened ...
(May 8, 2008) - Change that law
Winnipeg Sun, Canada - 4 hours ago
The 17-year-old -- who is presumed innocent until proven guilty on the latest charges he's facing -- will be dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act ...
(May 8, 2008) - Justice system ‘must be overhauled’
The Times, South Africa - 3 hours ago
The Law Society of SA has called for an overhaul of the justice system to deal with crime in the country. Co-chairmen Vincent Saldahna and CP Fourie said ...
(May 8, 2008) - Democrat announces his bid for Maricopa County attorney
Arizona Republic, AZ - 6 hours ago
Nelson stressed the importance of the human-smuggling laws, but told The Arizona Republic that because Thomas has been "approaching criminal law enforcement ...
Dem hopeful Nelson aims to unseat Thomas East Valley Tribune
all 4 news articles
(May 8, 2008) - Exonerated inmates urge changes in Texas' criminal justice system
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - 1 hour ago
He specifically called on Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott and Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson to establish an Innocence Commission ...
(May 8, 2008)
Blog Posts 
- Arrest in home was without exigent circumstances or warrant and violated Payton
Defendant's arrest in his home was not supported by exigent circumstances, and he opened the door on a command from the officers. Therefore, the entry and arrest violated Payton. United States v. Reeves, 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 9808 (10th Cir. May 7, 2008). The length of defendant's stop was not unreasonable. He consented while the officer was waiting for the computer check to come back, and the officer did not move him to the back of the patrol car until after he consented. United States v....
(May 8, 2008) - More Philly officers suspended
The Associated Press continues coverage here of the video released Monday showing an estimated 15 police officers kicking, punching and beating three shooting suspects during a traffic stop. Thirteen officers have been taken off the streets as investigators continue to review the footage. On Monday, police stopped the suspects' car while investigating a triple shooting in the area. No weapons were found in the car or on the suspects, but officers said they had seen an occupant of the car shoot...
(May 8, 2008) - Matlock applies to vehicle searches; here a taxicab
Defendant was under surveillance and was seen retrieving a gun from behind bushes and getting into a taxicab which he had called. The cab changed lanes without signaling and the officer pulled it over. He got the passenger out and got consent from the driver. While defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the cab, the court finds that Matlock on apparent authority to consent applies to taxicabs. The gun was found hidden under the floor mat. That showed defendant believed he had a...
(May 8, 2008) - Federal prison industries program expects to lose millions in sales
May 8th, 2008 Federal prison industries program expects to lose millions in sales By ELISE CASTELLI The federal program that sells office furniture and other products made from prison labor expects to lose millions of dollars in sales because of...
(May 7, 2008) - Thursday Night Open Thread
I'm taking a break for Grey's Anatomy. Here's a place to keep the discussion going or start a new one.
(May 7, 2008)