Chapter 10 Flashcards
Crime
A wrong against society proclaimed in a statute and punishable by society through fines or imprisonment or death
Who brings this suit
Civil: person who suffered harm
Criminal: the state
wrongful act
Civil: causing harm to a person or to a persons property
Criminal: violating a statute that prohibits some type of activity
Burden of proof
Civil: preponderance of the evidence
Criminal: beyond a reasonable doubt
Verdict
Civil: three-fourths majority
Criminal: unanimous
Remedy:
Civil: damages to compensate for the harm
Criminal: punishment
Beyond a reasonable doubt
The standard used to determine the guilt or innocence of a person
- must be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
Felonies
A crime such as arson, murder, rape, or robbery– that carries the most severe sanctions usually ranging from one year in a state or federal prison to the forfeiture of ones life
Misdemeanors
A lesser crime than a felony, punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to one year in other than a state or federal prison
Petty offenses
The least serious kind of crime such as traffic or building code violations
What must exist for a person to be convicted of a crime
- The performance of a prohibited act (actus reus)
2. A specified state of mind, or intent on th to part of the actor (mens rea)
actus reus
A guilty (prohibited) act.
Mens rea
A wrongful mental state
- criminal intent
- recklessness
- criminal negligence
strict liability crimes
Offenses that do not require a wrongful mental state
- environmental laws, illegal drugs, etc
Types of crimes
Violent crimes, property crimes, public order crimes, white collar crime, organized crime
Robbery
The act of forcefully and unlawfully taking personal property of any value from another; force or intimidation is usually necessary
aggravated robbery
With the use of a deadly weapon
Violent crimes
Murder
Robbery
Etc
Property crimes
Burglary Larceny Obtaining goods with false pretenses Receiving stolen goods Arson Forgery