The principle of criminal legality is one of the pillars upon
which criminal legislation is drafted. This principle is defined in
practice as No Crime or Punishment Without Legal Provision
supporting these acts. This in turn restricts criminalization and
punishment solely to the written law, also meaning that no
penalties can be imposed, unless this condition is fulfilled.
This principle was initially enacted to ensure that personal
liberty is not compromised, however, the concept of personal
liberty itself restricts the applicability of this principle. To
clarify, this means that, enforcement of this principle can only be
valid, to the extent that it imposes on an individual's
personal liberty, and does not extend beyond this.
