1.nature of crime (questions) Flashcards
what is a crime?
crime is an act or omission committed against the community at large that in punishable by the state.
What is the aim of criminal law?
- Achieve social control
- Maintain social order
- Protect the community and provide a sanction or punishment to the offender if he or she is found guilty by a court of law. The crown must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
What is the actus reus
actions of the accused
- proving suspect is guilty of the act
What is the Mens Rea
the mental state of the accused, the intentions
what are the three factors of mens rea
-intention
-recklessness
-criminal negligence
what is intention in mens rea and provide example
the clear, malicious or wilful intention to commit crime
-most difficult for prosecution to prove
-murder
what is recklessness
intermediate level of intent
was aware that their action could lead to a crime being committed but chose to take that risk anyways.
what is criminal negliegence
accused failed to foresee the risk
-they usually have the duty to protect
e.g, a doctor messes up
what is a strict liability offence?
only the elements of actus reus is needed to be shown
traffic offences are considered this offence (speeding)
only be successfully defended if the accused can prove that the actual act did not occur, as Mens rea is irrelevant to this category of offences.
what is causation
the casual link between criminal act and the harm
if you remove the criminal act, So in this case, remove the stabbing. Would the victim still have died? Would the harm still have occurred?
what is offences against a person. What are the three types?
crimes involving injury to another person
-homicide
-assault
-sexual offences
what are offences against the soverign? what is the type ?
crimes undermining the governance of nation
treason is the crime of betraying one’s nation
-breaching allegience to country and sedition
-terrorism, selling state secrets
what are economic offences? What are the three types?
loss of property = house, objects, money, assets
- crimes against property
2.white collar crimes (fraud) - computer crimes (scam, identity fraud)
what are drug offences?
crimes involving the obtainment, sale or traffic of illicit drugs
what are driving crimes
- strict liable offence
involve motor vehicles which break traffic laws
-speeding
-drunk driving
-negligent driving