noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
criminal; penal
Used in legal contexts to describe matters related to criminal law, as opposed to civil (民事上). Typically modifies nouns with の.
刑事上の責任を問われる可能性がある。
There is a possibility of being held criminally responsible.
これは刑事上の問題ではなく、民事上の問題だ
This is not a criminal matter but a civil one.
Can mean 'detective' or 'criminal case'; 刑事上 is specifically the adjectival form meaning 'criminal (legal)'.
Compound of 刑事 (criminal) + 上 (suffix meaning 'from the standpoint of' or 'regarding').