What does "criminal law" encompass?

"Criminal law" encompasses a body of laws that defines criminal offenses and establishes punishments for those offenses. This area of law aims to maintain public order and protect citizens by deterring and penalizing behavior deemed unacceptable by society. Criminal law includes the definition of what constitutes a crime, ranging from minor offenses to serious felonies, as well as the legal processes involved in prosecuting individuals accused of these crimes.

Understandably, laws regulating business practices fall under commercial or corporate law, while laws governing family matters relate to family law, and laws focused on property disputes pertain to civil law. These areas are distinct from criminal law in terms of scope, objectives, and the nature of the cases they address. Thus, the correct choice precisely identifies the core focus of criminal law as involving offenses and their associated punishments.