INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL KIDNAPPING
A person commits a federal criminal offense if he or she removes a child from the United States with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights. Such offense is prohibited by the International Parental Kidnapping Act, which Act was enacted in 1993. A "child" is defined under the Act as a person who is under the age of 16 years old. The terms "parental rights" mean the right to physical custody of the child, either joint or sole custody, which right includes visitation rights. More...

MURDER
A person commits the offense of murder when he or she intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual or when he or she intends to cause serious bodily injury to an individual and commits an act that causes the death of the individual. More...

A DEFENDANT'S RIGHT TO A PUBLIC TRIAL
A defendant is guaranteed the right to a public trial under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The right to a public trial is also an element of the defendant's due process rights, which rights are guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. In addition, states have enacted provisions in their constitutions that guarantee a defendant's right to a public trial. The public also has a right to attend criminal trials under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. More...

GAMBLING
A person commits the offense of gambling when he or she makes a bet on the result of a game or contest or on the performance of a participant in the game or contest; when he or she makes a bet on the result of a political nomination, appointment, or election, or on the success of any political nominee, candidate, or appointee; or when he or she plays and bets for money or for any item of value on any game that is played with cards, dice, balls, or other gambling devices. More...

FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES
The Federal Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 made many changes regarding sentencing in federal district courts. The Act established the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which guidelines govern all federal offenses other than petty offenses that were committed after November 1, 1987. The guidelines also abolished parole in the federal prison system, reduced the amount of credit that a federal prisoner could receive for good behavior, and imposed mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses. More...