Criminals are people who break the law. They may be murderers, robbers, or tax cheats. But they also could be journalists writing about crimes like restraining order violations or dating app scams. Generally, people want to read about crime because it’s exciting, and crime can often highlight important social issues such as corruption, drugs, poverty, and homelessness.

The goal of criminal law is to deter behaviors that are harmful to the community and punish those who commit them. It is also designed to establish standards of behavior and the punishments for failing to meet those standards. Criminal laws are based on a combination of societal norms, statutory definitions and the court system. The societal norms include public safety and respect for the rights of others, while statutory laws include the laws governing specific offenses and their penalties.

In criminal cases, the government, represented by a prosecutor, must prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In addition, the defendant is protected by the constitutional right to a fair trial. A jury of 6-12 people decides the case.

Criminals are motivated by a variety of things, such as greed, violence, and sex. The reason why they commit a particular crime is important to understand. Is it because they’re broke and need money, or are they trying to hurt someone? Do they have a drug problem? Maybe they are just mad. A good journalist will look at these motivations in their reporting.