1. Criminal Law Basics

2. Lesson goal To provide an introduction to the basics of criminal law
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Lesson goal
To provide an introduction to the basics of criminal law
in Virginia.

3. Students will learn: How crimes are defined in Virginia law:
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Students will learn:
How crimes are defined in Virginia law:
What felonies and misdemeanors are
How penalties for violating laws are classified and defined
Hidden consequences for committing a crime

4. How crimes are defined A crime is an act that violates the law either:
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
How crimes are defined
A crime is an act that violates the law either:
By doing something the law says you are not to do, or
By not doing something the law says you must do.

5. CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Reminder
Remember, even if a person doesn’t know the law, if he or she breaks the law, he or she is guilty of a crime. The statement “ignorance of the law is no excuse” is an ancient legal doctrine.

6. CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Where laws originate
Laws are enacted by our representatives at the federal, state, and local levels.
Enacting laws involves a process that allows us to have input.
Laws generally represent the rules that we, as a people, think people should live by.

7. CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Classes of crime
Crimes are organized into two main classifications: felonies and misdemeanors.
A felony is a serious crime punishable by death or a term of imprisonment in a state or federal prison for at least one year and a possible fine.
A misdemeanor is a lesser crime punishable by local jail time of not more than one year and/or a possible fine. Some offenses may either be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances surrounding the crime and the degree of the criminal act.

8. Punishment for felonies
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Punishment for felonies
Felonies are classified into categories called classes.
Punishment for a Class 1 Felony: Death

9. CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Capital offenses
Virginia is a capital punishment state. This means offenders may be executed. Examples of capital crimes include, but are not limited to
murder for hire
murder of a law enforcement officer
murder by a prisoner
multiple killings
murder arising from a drug crime, and
killing a child younger than 14 years old by a person 21 years or older.

10. Treating juveniles as adults
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Treating juveniles as adults
The Class 1 Felony description refers to a person less
than 16 years of age and prescribes life in prison rather than death.
It is important to know that someone as young as 14 may be tried as an adult (Code of Virginia § ).
In determining whether a juvenile will be tried as an
adult, the court examines many factors, including the seriousness of the crime and the juvenile’s role in
the crime.

11. Punishment for felonies, cont.
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Punishment for felonies, cont.
Class 2 Felony: Imprisonment for 20 years to life, and a possible fine of not more than $100,000.
Class 3 Felony: Imprisonment for five to 20 years, and a possible fine of not more than $100,000.
Class 4 Felony: Imprisonment for two to 10 years, and a possible fine of not more than $100,000.

12. Punishment for felonies, cont.
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Punishment for felonies, cont.
Class 5 Felony: Imprisonment for one to 10 years or confinement in jail for not more than 12 months, and/or a possible fine of not more than $2,500.
Class 6 Felony: Imprisonment for to five years or confinement in jail for not more than 12 months, and/or a possible fine of not more than $2,500.

13. CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Prisons
Prisons are correctional facilities run by the state or federal government.
Persons in state prisons have broken state laws and have been sentenced to more than 12 months.
Persons in federal prisons have broken federal laws.

14. CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Jails
Jails are local correctional facilities, operated by localities; regional jails are operated by groups of localities.
Persons in jails are either awaiting trial and/or final sentencing, or have been sentenced to confinement of no more than 12 months.

15. Punishment for misdemeanors
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Punishment for misdemeanors
Misdemeanors are classified into categories called classes.
Class 1 Misdemeanor: Confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and/or a possible fine of not more than $2,500.
Class 2 Misdemeanor: Confinement in jail for not more than six months and/or a possible fine of not more than $1,000.
Class 3 Misdemeanor: A fine of not more than $500.
Class 4 Misdemeanor: A fine of not more than $250.

16. Other consequences of crime
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Other consequences of crime
A person convicted of a crime:
Develops a criminal record
Embarrasses his or her family and friends
Loses the opportunity to hold certain jobs
Cannot serve in the armed services
May lose driving privileges
More specifically, adults convicted of a felony:
Lose their right to vote
Lose their right to possess a firearm
Lose their right to run for public office

17. Review and recap You have learned:
CRIMINAL LAW BASICS
Review and recap
You have learned:
How crimes are defined in Virginia law.
That being ignorant of the law is no excuse.
What felonies and misdemeanors are.
How penalties for violating laws are classified and defined.
Some of the hidden consequences for committing a crime.