Criminal Law Definitions 1. It’s important to understand the terms associated with criminal law. Sentencing, or
the process of determining how a ,
is based on strict definitions of criminal activities and due process.
2. The first element is Mens Rea which means “a guilty mind”. This is an assessment
of the .
3. Third, in order to convict someone of a crime there has to be proof showing the
occurred at the same time. This is
called “concurrence”.
4. Criminal cases require a much higher burden of proof, because convicted
offenders face difficult punishments which may affect the offender’s permanent
record and in some cases result in being
taken away.
5. A felony is a serious offense that is punishable with over a year in jail. When
someone is convicted with a felony he or she no longer has
—for example, the right to own guns.