Criminal Law in Louisville, KY
The Louisville, Kentucky criminal law firm of Bahe & Cook PLLC represents clients in Louisville and throughout the greater Louisville region.
Civil law versus criminal law in Louisville, KY
The American legal system originally evolved from English common law. As our county developed, laws moved away from English common law and evolved into statutory law—laws developed by legislatures on both state and federal levels.
The intent of criminal law is to govern criminal offenses, including adjudication and punishment. Criminal law violations are regarded as actions that inflict social harm, such as:
- Murder
- Rape
- Grand theft
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter
- Armed robbery
- Assault
Criminal law attempts to prevent and control crime through punishment, known as sentencing. Civil law is separate from criminal law and in contrast deals primarily with private matters between individuals including:
- Personal injury
- Contracts
- Property
- Administrative law
The purpose of tort law, which is a specific type of civil law, is to obtain restitution for harm caused to an individual by another through neglect or carelessness. Generally, that restitution is monetary in nature.
Louisville criminal laws
While many people are familiar with criminal laws such as murder and drug crimes, some examples of lesser known laws include:
Aiding and abetting or accessory. An individual can be charged with aiding and abetting or accessory even when he or she is not present during the commission of the crime. Knowledge of the crime before or after the fact, and/or assisting through advice, actions, or financial support are the determining factors. Laundering money through a business for a bank robber is an example.
Criminal conspiracy. When two or more individuals agree to and take action toward committing a crime, criminal conspiracy exists. For example, Joe and Mary plan to murder Martha to collect insurance money. While Joe may commit the actual murder, since Martha was involved in the plan, she is legally part of the conspiracy to commit murder.
Telemarketing fraud. Telemarketing fraud generally relates to deceptive schemes directed at consumers via unsolicited telephone calls promising non-existent prize winnings, cash windfalls, or other benefits. Senior citizens are often targets of fraudulent telemarketers.
Discuss your criminal law case
Contact Bahe & Cook PLLC online or call 866-373-5751 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your criminal law matter today.