Law School for Everyone Season 1 Episode 13 Who Defines Crimes, and How?
- TV-PG
- September 22, 2017
- 36 min
Law School for Everyone is an engaging and educational series that delves into the intricacies of the law for a general audience. In season 1 episode 13, titled "Who Defines Crimes, and How?" viewers are taken on a journey through the fundamental yet complex process of defining what constitutes a crime and how the definitions are agreed upon.
The episode begins with a brief introduction to the importance of defining crimes and how it is a crucial aspect of any legal system. It then delves into the historical perspective of crime definitions, starting with the ancient civilizations' concept of criminal law as a means of punishing wrongdoing and restoring balance to society. The modern understanding of crime began to take place in the 18th century with the Age of Enlightenment, which emphasized the need for criminal laws to be clear, precise, and consistent with the societal values of the time.
The program moves on to discuss significant players in the creation of criminal definitions. These include the legislature, courts, and other governmental institutions responsible for shaping policy. These institutions have different roles in defining and refining crime, such as writing criminal laws, coming up with criminal definitions, and setting punishment standards. The episode also touches on legislators' responsibility to weigh the needs for the common good versus individual rights and how new technology and innovation have challenged traditional notions of criminality.
The narrative then shifts to examining how criminal definitions are created, adjudicated, and changed over time. An essential aspect of the lawmaking process is the creation of definitions that accurately communicate the crimes and their elements. Using case studies, the show explains how courts apply criminal definitions and how these concepts can evolve over time. The program highlights how legal arguments can reshape definitions, and we see how judges' decisions can shape future legal cases and provide future legal guidance.
The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of the social context in shaping the legal definitions of crime. The program explores how the law is influenced by cultural norms, values, and other societal factors. Criminal definitions can change over time as society's attitudes, values and lifestyles shift. Viewing the law from this larger perspective emphasizes the importance of ongoing legal dialogues and the need to continually reevaluate legal definitions resulting from changes in society and culture.
In summary, "Who Defines Crimes, and How?" is a thought-provoking episode that illuminates the intricacies of how society and the law operate together to establish the legal boundaries of Crime. It emphasizes the need for clear guidelines while recognizing the incredible challenge of defining human wrongdoing in ever-evolving social and cultural environments. The show serves as an excellent introduction to the essential role of criminal definitions in our legal system. Overall, this episode of Law School for Everyone is a must-see for those interested in learning more about the law's workings.