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52 criminal codes, one for each of the 50 states, one for the District of Columbia, and one for the U.S. criminal code.
Federal System
Intentionally inflicting pain or other unpleasant consequences on another person.
Punishment
The use of punishment to prevent or reduce future crimes.
Deterrence
Aims to reduce crime by the threat of punishment to convince criminal wannabes in the general population to not commit a crime in the future.
General Deterrence
Aims to reduce crime by inflicting the actual punishment to convince offenders not to commit crimes in the future.
Specific Deterrence
The idea that government power should be defined and limited to laws.
Rule of Law
The right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home.
Second Amendment
Intended to make sure that offenders who are convicted of a third felony get locked up for a very long time(sometimes for life).
Three-Strike Laws
The requirement that all crimes have to include a voluntary criminal act, which is the physical element of a crime and the first principle of criminal liability.
actus reus
Criminal intent, the mental element of a crime.
mens rea
Requirements a criminal act triggered by criminal intent.
Conduct Crimes
The principle of criminal liability that requires that a criminal intent had to trigger a criminal act.
Concurrence
Unconscious bodily movements.
Automatism
Offenses that require some level of criminal intent.
mala in se
Private wrongs for which you can sue the party who wronged y0u and recover money.
Torts
Damages recovered by tort plaintiffs to punish the defendant for their "evil behavior".
Punitive Damages
The failure to act when there's a legal duty to act.
Criminal Omission
Not providing information when you are legally required to.
Failure to Report
An obligation created by a statute, contract, or special relationship, and enforceable by law.
Legal Duty
Physical control of banned items on my person.
Actual Possession