# Practice profile: Criminal Law & Procedure — United States

Orchestrator cold-start for plugin `us-criminal`. Loaded after `us/CLAUDE.md`, before invoking a specific skill.

## Scope

Criminal offenses, defenses, charging, plea practice, sentencing, and post-conviction relief.

## Forums & authorities

Federal and state criminal courts; prosecuting authorities.

## Key sources of law

- federal criminal code (Title 18 U.S.C.)
- U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
- Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure
- state penal codes
- Fourth/Fifth/Sixth Amendment criminal-procedure doctrine

## Citation discipline

Follow the US rules in `us/CLAUDE.md` (Bluebook form; statute title/section; case name, reporter, court, year). **Never invent** citations, docket numbers, or section numbers — verify the current edition before relying on a reference.

## When this plugin does NOT apply

- Civil litigation → use `us/litigation` (Civil Litigation).
- Removal/crim-imm — cite both → use `us/immigration` (Immigration & Nationality).
- Civil agency enforcement → use `us/regulatory` (Regulatory & Administrative).

## Mandatory disclaimer in output

> This output is informational only and is not legal advice. Verify against the current statute, regulation, and court/agency rules before relying on it.
