ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION is chapter describes the substantive and procedural laws that govern criminal prosecutions from the crime scene investigation through to the verdict rendered by a jury. e formation of substantive criminal law-the standards that apply to behavior and conduct within a society and the punishments attached to violations of those standards-is controlled by statutes enacted by the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Criminal o—enses are divided into two major classi”cations: felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are o—enses where the punishment exceeds one year of incarceration and misdemeanors are lesser o—enses where the defendant can be sentenced to a year or less in jail.
