Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch
Criminal and private laws are codified on the national level in the "Strafgesetzbuch" (literally Penal Law Book) and the "Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch" (literally Civil Law Book) respectively. The German penal system is aimed towards rehabilitation of the criminal and the protection of the general public. Except for petty crimes, which are tried before a single professional judge, and serious political crimes, all charges are tried before mixed tribunals on which lay judges (Schöffen or assessors) sit side by side with professional judges.