Noun
penal law (countable and uncountable, plural penal laws)
(law) Criminal law.
United States In United States penal law, other than a felony, court findings of, or an act of gross negligence can be counted as a indictable offence. Source: Internet
While modern systems distinguish between offences against the "State" or "community", and offences against the "individual", the so-called penal law of ancient communities did not deal with "crimes" (Latin: crimina), but with "wrongs" (Latin: delicta). Source: Internet