Point

• What is the point of criminal law?

  The overall point of criminal law is to constrain the power of the state – criminal law is public law.
• What does criminal law serve to do?

  It serves to constrain the (1) state's declaratory power and it's (2) retributive power.
• State Declaratory Power 


  Power to declare conduct criminal in the first place.
• Retributive Power


  Power to punish individuals who act in violate of those declarations.