Criminal is a word that describes something that is against the law and will result in punishment if it is found to have occurred. Acts that are considered crimes include stealing, murder, fraud, and many other things. A criminal justice system includes the police, courts, and detention and supervisory agencies that work together to maintain a society that follows the rule of law.
Felonies are serious crimes and can carry prison sentences of up to life in jail. They are considered crimes because they endanger the public’s safety and property, and they violate a person’s rights. Felonies are divided into groups, or “classes,” depending on the degree of the crime and whether or not violence is involved.
The decision to charge someone with a crime is up to the prosecutor, who works for the government and is usually elected by voters. The decision of whether to charge someone is based on the strength of the evidence, the severity of the crime, and the wishes of any victims, if they exist.
There was a time when true crime writing was limited to mass market paperbacks by authors like Ann Rule and Joe McGinnis, or shared through visual storytelling such as television “movies of the week.” But now there are many more opportunities for writers interested in the genre. Using the Internet and social media, writers can bring people inside of criminal cases in a way that has never been possible before.
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