Editing Crime (section)

== Criminal law ==
{{Main|Criminal law}}
{{Criminal law}}
Virtually all countries in the 21st century have criminal law grounded in [[Civil law (common law)|civil law]], [[common law]], [[Islamic law]], or [[socialist law]].{{sfn|Roth|2014|p=48}} Historically, criminal codes have often divided criminals by class or caste, prescribing different penalties depending on status.{{sfn|Roth|2014|p=11}} In some tribal societies, an entire clan is recognized as liable for a crime. In many cases, disputes over a crime in this system lead to a [[feud]] that lasts over several generations.{{sfn|Roth|2014|pp=23–24}}

=== Criminalization ===
{{Main|Criminalization}}
The state determines what actions are considered criminal in the scope of the law.{{Sfn|Ashworth|Horder|2013|p=22}} Criminalization has significant [[human rights]] considerations, as it can infringe on rights of autonomy and subject individuals to unjust punishment.{{Sfn|Ashworth|Horder|2013|pp=32–33}}

=== Law enforcement ===
{{Main|Law enforcement}}
The enforcement of criminal law seeks to prevent crime and sanction crimes that do occur. This enforcement is carried out by the state through [[Law enforcement agency|law enforcement agencies]], such as [[police]], which are empowered to [[arrest]] suspected perpetrators of crimes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shavell |first=Steven |date=1993 |title=The Optimal Structure of Law Enforcement |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/467275 |journal=The Journal of Law and Economics |language=en |volume=36 |issue=1, Part 2 |pages=255–287 |doi=10.1086/467275 |s2cid=153944387 |issn=0022-2186}}</ref> Law enforcement may focus on policing individual crimes, or it may focus on bringing down overall crime rates.{{Sfn|O'Neill|2010|pp=485–486}} One common variant, [[community policing]], seeks to prevent crime by integrating police into the community and public life.{{Sfn|O'Neill|2010|p=487}}

=== Criminal procedure ===
{{Main|Criminal procedure}}
When the perpetrator of a crime is found guilty of the crime, the state delivers a [[Sentence (law)|sentence]] to determine the penalty for the crime.{{Sfn|Ashworth|Horder|2013|p=18}}

=== Liability ===
{{Main|Legal liability}}
If a crime is committed, the individual responsible is considered to be liable for the crime. For liability to exist, the individual must be capable of understanding the criminal process and the relevant authority must have legitimate power to establish what constitutes a crime.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Duff |first=R. |date=1998-06-01 |title=Law, language and community: some preconditions of criminal liability |url=https://academic.oup.com/ojls/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/ojls/18.2.189 |journal=Oxford Journal of Legal Studies |language=en |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=189–206 |doi=10.1093/ojls/18.2.189 |issn=0143-6503}}</ref>

=== International criminal law ===
{{Main|International criminal law}}
International criminal law typically addresses serious offenses, such as [[genocide]], [[crimes against humanity]], and [[War crime|war crimes]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Frulli |first=M. |date=2001-04-01 |title=Are Crimes against Humanity More Serious than War Crimes? |journal=European Journal of International Law |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=329–350 |doi=10.1093/ejil/12.2.329 |issn=0938-5428|doi-access=free |hdl=2158/209025 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> As with all international law, these laws are created through [[treaties]] and [[Customary international law|international custom]],{{Sfn|Bantekas|Nash|2009|pp=2–3}} and they are defined through the consensus of the involved states.{{Sfn|Bantekas|Nash|2009|p=6}} International crimes are not prosecuted through a standard legal system, though international organizations may establish [[Tribunal|tribunals]] to investigate and rule on egregious offenses such as genocide.{{Sfn|Bantekas|Nash|2009|pp=10–11}}