Practice Areas / Criminal Attorney Brookline MA
Criminal law is the legal area relating to crime. That is, it governs the areas specifically outlined by the laws of Massachusetts as criminal (as opposed to civil). Broadly defined, it is the rules of conduct that are not allowed in society, because it threatens, harms, or endangers the safety and the welfare of the people. Unlike civil law, where the focus is particularly on dispute resolution, criminal law focuses on the punishment of the offender. Crimes can be such seemingly minor acts of misconduct as shoplifting and motor vehicle violations to the most serious crimes of robbery and murder.
The critical elements of criminal law are the mens rea and the actus reus. The mens rea is a Latin term that refers to guilty intent: that someone intended to commit a crime. The mens rea alone is not enough to be guilty of a crime (as no crime has been committed - it is entirely the mental formulation of it). The actus reus is the physical act or conduct of the crime. It is the action of the mens rea; it is the crime. With the exception of strict liability crimes, a mens rea must have occurred in order for a crime to have been committed - that is someone must willfully commit to breaking the law. The mental formulation and the physical action are equally necessary components of criminal law.
If you have any questions about criminal law or would like to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney, call the Law Offices of Houlihan, Kraft & Cardinal today at 1 617-277-3477 or visit our contact page. We have more than 40 years of experience representing criminal defendants in the District Courts and Superior Courts throughout Massachusetts. Your consultation is free. The advice is free. And you have no obligation. Let us serve you.
The firm prides itself on the traditional values of hard work and personal customer service with our focus being on representing individuals, families and small companies who demand responsive legal representation.
As experts in personal injury law, divorce law, business and real estate law, some of the personal legal services we provide include: Personal Injury Claims, Automobile Accident Claims, Divorce Matters, Child Custody/ Child Support Matters, Wills/Probate of Estates, Probate Court Litigation, Civil Service Claims, Criminal Law/OUI Cases and Real Estate closings. Each of the firms attorneys are experienced trial lawyers in the Civil Courts, Probate Courts and Criminal Courts of Massachusetts representing clients in these courts through all phases of litigation from early settlements through Jury Trial Verdicts.
Our commitment to obtain success for our clients has led to our firm’s success in the Brookline business community.
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229 Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 277-3477
617-738-0954
