Thousands of crimes occur every day, and people somewhere will be killed or robbed until we figure out how to stop it. That makes crime one of the most popular topics for news, features and radio. The topic also gives journalists endless scopes for investigation, various information to collect and questions to answer.

The aim of criminal law is to protect society from harm by deterring people from committing crimes, punishing those who do commit them and rehabilitating those found guilty of offences. It is also about preventing the repetition of past crimes.

A key part of this is in the way in which crimes are reported. It’s been proven that glamorising or sensationalising criminal activity increases the fear of crime and this is why it’s important not to overstate events when reporting crime.

Defending an offender

Those accused of a crime have a right to defend themselves, and the defences they use can vary from self-defense and mental illness to poverty, pressure and aimlessness. The prosecution must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the act or omission in question, and that it caused the particular consequences (or harm) they are charged with.

A conviction under criminal law can lead to a variety of different penalties depending on the nature of the offence. It can include a fine, community service or imprisonment. Generally speaking, the more serious the offence the more severe the penalty will be. Many crimes have degrees of severity that taxonomize their degree of seriousness; for example first-degree murder requires a showing of premeditation, while second-degree murder does not.