Final answer:
Substantive criminal law defines offenses and crimes, while procedural criminal law establishes the rules and procedures for processing criminal cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Substantive criminal law and procedural criminal law are two branches of criminal law that complement each other in the legal system. Substantive criminal law creates and defines the various offenses and crimes that individuals can be charged with, such as murder, theft, or drug possession. It establishes the elements that must be proven for someone to be found guilty of a crime, such as the act itself (actus reus) and the mental state (mens rea) of the individual.
On the other hand, procedural criminal law establishes the rules and procedures that govern how criminal cases are processed in the legal system. It ensures that individuals accused of crimes are given fair and equal treatment before the law. Procedural criminal law covers aspects such as the rights of the accused, the gathering and presentation of evidence, and the conduct of trials.
These two branches of criminal law work together to ensure that justice is served. Without substantive criminal law, there would be no offenses to charge individuals with, and without procedural criminal law, there would be no fair and orderly process to determine guilt or innocence.