Chapter TwoChapter TwoConstitutional Constitutional Limits on Limits on Criminal LawCriminal LawRestraint on Government Restraint on Government PowerPower3 Types of Restraint3 Types of Restraint1. 1.The Principle of LegalityThe Principle of Legality2. 2.Rule of LenityRule of Lenity3. 3.Stare Decisis/PrecedentStare Decisis/Precedent1. The Principle of 1. The Principle of LegalityLegalitya.k.a.: a.k.a.:

Rule of la!"Rule of la!"# general proposition # general proposition that the la! controls the po!er of that the la! controls the po!er of the go$ern%ent.the go$ern%ent.&pplies to all for%s of la!%aking&pplies to all for%s of la!%akingWhen applied to criminal When applied to criminal lawlawThe Principalof 'Legality(an on Retroacti$e)ri%inal La!%aking"!an on Retroactive !an on Retroactive Lawma"ingLawma"ing*ften referred to as the +rst principle *ften referred to as the +rst principle of cri%inal la!" of cri%inal la!" ,o cri%e !ithout la!- no punish%ent ,o cri%e !ithout la!- no punish%ent !ithout la!!ithout la!De+nitionDe+nition:a person cannot .e :a person cannot .e con$icted of a cri%e unless the la! con$icted of a cri%e unless the la! de+ned the cri%e and prescri.ed the de+ned the cri%e and prescri.ed the punish%ent .efore he/she acted.punish%ent .efore he/she acted. #ughes v. $tate #ughes v. $tate %p. &1'%p. &1'Comprised of & (aluesComprised of & (aluesThe .an on retroacti$e la!%aking is The .an on retroacti$e la!%aking is co%prised/co%prised/0airness0airnessLi.ertyLi.ertyDe%ocracyDe%ocracy12uality12uality).Rule of Lenity).Rule of Lenityie.3 Strict construction of cri%inal ie.3 Strict construction of cri%inal statutesstatutes4hen a 5udge applies a statute in a 4hen a 5udge applies a statute in a cri%inal case3 the 5udge %ust stick cri%inal case3 the 5udge %ust stick clearly to the letter of the la!" and clearly to the letter of the la!" and resol$e any a%.iguities in fa$or of resol$e any a%.iguities in fa$or of the defendant and against the defendant and against application of the statute.application of the statute.*+ample*+ample& theft of 63777.77 or %ore shall .e & theft of 63777.77 or %ore shall .e considered a felony of the 1considered a felony of the 1st st degree degree 3.$tare 3.$tare ,ecisis-Precedent,ecisis-PrecedentStare DecisisStare Decisis::LatinTo stand by things decided.LatinTo stand by things decided.The principle that .inds courts to stand The principle that .inds courts to stand .y prior decisions 8precedents9 and to .y prior decisions 8precedents9 and to lea$e undistur.ed settled points of la!lea$e undistur.ed settled points of la!Constitutional Limits onCriminal LawsPure ,emocracyPure ,emocracyvs.vs.Constitutional ,emocracyConstitutional ,emocracyConstitutional LimitsConstitutional Limits1. 1.(an on e: post facto la!s(an on e: post facto la!s2. 2.Right to pri$acyRight to pri$acy3. 3.Right to due process of la!Right to due process of la!;. ;.Right to e2ual protection of the la!Right to e2ual protection of the la!.(an on cruel and unusual punish%ent (an on cruel and unusual punish%ent 1. *+ Post .act 1. *+ Post .act LawsLaws%!an on Retroactive Lawma"ing'%!an on Retroactive Lawma"ing'&rticle ?3 Section @ ' A.S. &rticle ?3 Section @ ' A.S. )ongress)ongress

Section 17 ' State Section 17 ' State LegislaturesLegislatures/n e+ post facto law is a /n e+ post facto law is a statute that does one of statute that does one of three thingsthree things1. 1.)ri%inaliBes an act that !as )ri%inaliBes an act that !as innocent !hen it !as co%%ittedinnocent !hen it !as co%%itted2. 2.?ncreases punish%ent for a cri%e ?ncreases punish%ent for a cri%e after the cri%e !as co%%itted- orafter the cri%e !as co%%itted- or3. 3.Takes a!ay a defense that !as Takes a!ay a defense that !as a$aila.le to a defendant !hen the a$aila.le to a defendant !hen the cri%e !as co%%itted.cri%e !as co%%itted.). The Right to ). The Right to PrivacyPrivacyRight to Privacy ,e0ned Right to Privacy ,e0ned (ans all go$ern%ent in$asion into (ans all go$ern%ent in$asion into the sanctity of a personCs ho%e and the sanctity of a personCs ho%e and the pri$acies of life.the pri$acies of life.Dris!old $. )onnecticutDris!old $. )onnecticut 81@=