Criminal Attorney, Defense Attorney
Napa Valley, San Francisco North Bay, Ca. USA

Criminal law (also known as penal law)

 is the body of statutory and common law that deals with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offenses. It is law prohibiting conduct that disrupts social order or challenge's the authority of the state, and consequently deals with matters of significant public concern. In contrast with civil law, actions are pursued by the state rather than private citizens. Criminal law has been seen as a system of regulating the behavior of individuals and groups in relation to societal norms whereas civil law is aimed primarily at the relationship between private individuals and their rights and obligations under the law.