Scope of Criminal Law and Common Disputes

Criminal law is a branch of public law that examines which acts constitute crimes in order to protect social order and peace, the sanctions to be applied to individuals who commit these crimes (imprisonment, judicial fines, and security measures), and the trial procedures. Because it is directly connected to personal liberty and security, which are among the most fundamental rights of individuals, it requires utmost care and diligence.

Fundamental Principles of Criminal Law

Criminal law is fundamentally based on the principle of legality ("no crime or punishment without law"). In addition, the complete realization of the legal, material, and moral elements of a crime, the rule of "no crime or punishment without fault," the presumption of innocence of the accused (the right not to be stigmatized), and the principle of in dubio pro reo (benefit of the doubt) form the foundation of the criminal justice system.

Common Disputes Encountered in Criminal Law Practice

The primary types of crimes and disputes frequently encountered during the investigation and prosecution stages (prosecution offices and criminal courts) in practice are as follows:

• Crimes Against Property: Being in the position of a suspect/defendant or seeking rights as a victim due to crimes such as theft, fraud (qualified fraud), embezzlement/breach of trust, robbery (extortion), and criminal damage to property.
• Crimes Against Persons (Violence and Defamation): Disputes arising from actions such as intentional injury, injury by negligence, defamation, threats, blackmail, and disturbing the peace and tranquility of individuals, as well as complaint-bound crime processes.
• Cybercrimes (Crimes Committed in the Field of Informatics): Misuse of bank or credit cards, unauthorized access to informatics systems, interfering with or damaging systems, and types of fraud and cybercrimes committed via the internet.
• Forgery of Documents and Economic Crimes: Complex investigations conducted under accusations such as forgery of official or private documents, issuing bad checks, opposition to the Tax Procedure Law, and abuse of office.
• Drug or Stimulant Substance Crimes: Investigation and prosecution stages regarding the crimes of trading/providing drugs or stimulants, as well as purchasing, accepting, or possessing drugs or stimulants for personal use.

Key Considerations in Legal Proceedings

In criminal law processes, even the smallest procedural error or mistake made during a statement can lead to irreparable losses of rights. Especially during the investigation stage (statements given to law enforcement and the prosecutor's office), acting with the assistance of a defense counsel (lawyer), objecting to arrest or judicial control measures within the statutory period, and conducting evidence collection processes in compliance with the law are of vital importance.