Chapter 4 - Criminal Law - Concepts Flashcards
Substantive criminal law defines (1) and establishes (2). Procedural criminal law regulates (3) of substantive law, (4) of guilt and (5) of those found guilty.
- crimes
- penalties
- enforcement
- determination
- punishment
The distinction between misdemeanors and felonies is the latter (1). Most felonies are considered (2) in that they are universally condemned by civilized societies. Misdemeanors are (3)–“victimless crimes” declared wrong by law because they are incompatible with the public good.
- carries a sentence of more than a year
- mala in se
- mala prohibita
(1) laws are subject to change as society changes–such as laws against adultery and sodomy.
- Mala prohibita
Because crime is considered an in injury against (1), it is the (2) that brings charges. (3) exists within the courts of criminal law, and prosecution depends on the type of law violated.
- society
- government
- Federalism
4 ways a victim, who typically plays a small role in a criminal prosecution, can play a larger role
- observe how the case is being handled
- complete a “Victim Impact Statement” to play into sentencing request
- restitution from probated defendants
- civil suits to require damages
The criminal law rests on the idea that individuals are (1) for their actions and must be (2) for them, but there are some exceptions such as (3) and (4).
- responsible
- held accountable
- small children
- factors beyond the individuals’ control
American criminal laws originate from (1) that was adopted by states through (2) and is now largely codified in (3). Codification was greatly aided by (4). Modern law retains many of the (5) offenses of English common law, but often go far beyond it in (6) offenses.
- English common law
- reception statutes
- criminal statutes
- Blackstone’s Commentaries
Modern law retains many of the (1) offenses of English common law, but often go far beyond it in (2) offenses. Cities and counties, when authorized to do so by (3) or (4), may enact (5) dealing with things like traffic offenses and animal control.
- mala in se
- mala prohibita
- state constitutions
- acts by state legislatures
- ordinances
Congress has adopted statutes (1), and may vest (2) with authority to adopt their own federal crimes.
- related to their constitutional legislative powers
2. federal regulatory agencies
The Model Penal Code was established by the (1) and establishes a model for criminal liability, sentences, defenses and definitions of specific crimes. It has been influential both in (2) and in (3).
- American Law Institute (ALI)
- drafting of criminal statutes
- judicial interpretation of criminal statutes/doctrines
3 ways trial courts play a role in development of law
- make factual determinations
- apply settled law to established facts
- impose sanctions
It is the job of appellate courts to develop law by interpreting (1) and (2), which often use majestic or common-law phrases. Appellate courts usually apply the doctrine of (3) for this process, but may have to rule on cases with no (4) or even (5). As such, they play a lawmaking function as well as one of error correction.
- constitutions
- statutes
- stare decisis
- precedent
- overturn precedent
The only law defined in the Constitution is (1). (2) and (3) are examples of Constitutional limitations on criminal law.
- treason
- bills of attainder
- ex post facto
In (1), the SC held it unconstitutional to punish public avocation of violence as a means of political change, unless the speech sought to or would likely produce imminent lawless action.
Brandenburg v. Ohio
In (1), the SC held that requiring Amish to attend school beyond 8th grade, against their religion, was a violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
- Wisconsin v. Yoder
In (1), the SC upheld a flag-burning as a protected right under the First Amendment.
- Texas v. Johnson
In (1) and (2), the SC declared a statute unconstitutional that required censorship of “indecent” material on the Internet that may become available to minors or harm minors
- Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union
2. Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union
In (1) the SC upheld free speech rights of the Westboro Baptist Church protesting 1,000 feet away from soldiers’ funeral.
- Snyder v. Phelps
(1) is an example of a statute trumping free speech, when burning crosses to intimidate a person or group.
- Virginia v. Black
Due process requires, among other things, that criminal statutes be written in a way that a person of (1) has a (2) to know what is prohibited. When legislature fail to meet his obligation, they have succumbed to (3).
- ordinary intelligence
- reasonable opportunity
- vice of vagueness
In (1) it was ruled that statutes could not ban homosexual acts or any private, consensual sexual activity by adults.
Lawrence v. Texas
Though court cannot prevent legislatures from (1), they can enjoin (2) of those laws or (3) of those prosecuted under the laws.
- enacting unconstitutional criminal laws
- enforcement
- reverse conviction
2 necessary elements of a crime
- wrongful act or omission of a duty to act (actus reus)
2. criminal intent (mens rea)
Criminal intent can be (1) or (2).
- general (setting fire to a building)
2. specific (defrauding an insurer)
4 types of criminal intent in the hierarchy posed by the Model Penal Code
- purposely
- knowingly
- recklessly
- negligently
Statutory rape and sale of alcohol to a minor are examples of (1), where one is held criminally responsible irrespective of intent.
- strict-liability offenses
In addition to actus reus and mens rea, the concept of (1), or (2), sometimes comes into play.
- causation
2. proximate cause
Historically in common law, parties to crimes were classified as (1) or (2) and by the (3) of involvement. There was also a difference between accessories (4) and (5). Because (6) were far less serious, there was no need to distinguish between parties.
- principals
- accessories
- degree
- before the fact
- after the fact
- misdemeanors
The trend in American law has been to abolish distinguishing between (1) and (2), though the separate offense of (3) still remains in many jurisdictions, and it receives a less severe punishment. The gist of this charge lies essentially in (4) and (5).
- principals
- accessories
- accessory after the fact
- knowing the defendant committed a felony
- obstructing justice
3 types of inchoate, or incomplete offenses
- attempt (goes beyond mere preparation)
- solicitation (of another to commit a crime)
- conspiracy
2 parts to determining an attempt
- intent to engage in criminal conduct (of target crime)
2. a substantial step toward completion
Solicitation must be of a (1) other than (2). A person can be found guilty of solicitation even if (3). The fact that the person solicited cannot commit the crime is (4). However, a (5) could hold up.
- federal crime
- first-degree murder
- the crime is never committed
- not a good defense
- quick, voluntary renunciation
With regard to conspiracy, some jurisdictions only require an (1) and an (2), but some (including federal law) require an (3). Conspiracy does not (4) into the target offense–it is separate (unlike attempt).
- agreement
- intent
- overt action
- merge
(1) holds that two people cannot conspire to commit crimes such as bigamy or incest because those crimes only affect the two people–not the public
- Wharton’s Rule
Some states recognize (1) as a defense to conspiracy, but courts often require the defendant to also have attempted to (2) the action.
- withdrawal
2. thwart (report to authorities, etc.)
5 basic categories of offenses against persons
- assaultive offenses
- homicide
- Rape/Sexual battery
- False imprisonment and kidnapping
- abusive offenses
Simple assault is a (1); aggravated assault (with a weapon) is a (2).
- misdemeanor
2. felony
6 types of assaultive offenses
- assault (attempt to inflict harm)
- aggravated assault (+ weapon)
- battery (use of force against someone)
- aggravated battery (+ weapon)
- mayhem (severing limbs/eyes to render less able to fight)
- stalking (harassment + credible threat)
Common law split homicide into (1) and (2), the latter of which did not contain malice. It also subdivided (3) in self-defense or command of the law, and (4) if committed through accident. In addition to two degrees of criminal homicide, some states proscribe an offense of lesser culpability known as (5_
- murder
- manslaughter
- justifiable homicide
- excusable homicide
- third-degree murder
At common law, manslaughter was known as (1) or (2). Manslaughter today frequently embraces responsibility for (3) as well as (4) where there is a legal duty to act. Often, there is a fine line between (5) and (6).
- voluntary
- involuntary
- omissions
- commissions
- second-degree murder
- manslaughter
(1) usually carries a lesser penalty than manslaughter. A charge of (2) instead requires evidence of negligence but not gross negligence or recklessness.
- Vehicular homicide
2. vehicular manslaughter
(1)–killing that occurs during commissions or attempted commission of another crime–has been incorporated into most criminal codes and usually outlines a list of (2) that can lead to the charge.
- Felony murder
2. specific felonies
3 examples of excusable homicide
- accident, absent recklessness or intent
- heat of passion, absent a weapon or cruel/unusual manner
- vehicular accident, absent negligence
In contrast to excusable homicide, justifiable homicide includes (1).
- intent to kill
3 pieces of required proof for homicide
- victim was alive before homicide
- victim was killed by a criminal act (corpus delicti)
- victim’s death was proximate cause of the defendant
2 changes from common law on current homicide laws
- 366-day rule from act to death has been done away with
2. Death = “brain death” not cessation of heartbeat
The Supreme Court has upheld a statute making it a crime to assist another in (1), separating it from the right to (2). It is effectively up to the (3) to govern this assisted suicide.
- committing suicide
- refuse medical treatment
- states
In common law, (1) found that a husband could not be found guilty of raping his wife. Though age requirements changed over time, the idea of (2) was hard to nail down, analyzing the degree of (3) and the victim’s (4).
- Hale’s Rule
- consent
- resistance
- reputation
The 1970s saw the changing of rape to a (1), and the 1990’s saw a shift away from (2). (3) are also a reform and prevent a victim’s sexual past from being displayed as evidence; even relationship with the perpetrator must be first presented to the court (4) to determine probative value. (5), used as evidence to show lack of consent, has not been consistently considered admissible.
- gender-neutral offense
- Hale’s Rule
- Rape shield laws
- in camera
- Rape trauma syndrome
Failure to comply with (1), the sex-offender registry, is a criminal offense. The most common defense to rape charges is (2); but this is not applicable at all in (3), which is a strict-liability offense.
- Megan’s Law
- consent
- statutory rape
(1) is a rare charge and consists of confining someone against their will, and requires proof of (2). (3)–taking someone away without consent–also usually requires this. Some states distinguish between (4) and (5), while others classify it according to degree.
- false imprisonment
- intent
- kidnapping
- simple kidnapping
- kidnapping for ransom
Kidnapping cases often end up in federal court because if they exceed (1) hours, the person is assumed to have been taken (2). The Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, and Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act, address the problem of (3). (4) is the taking into custody of a child by one parent from another.
- 24 hours
- across state lines
- interstate child abduction
- child snatching
3 defenses against kidnapping
- consent
- not sufficient movement (to get reduced to false imprisonment)
- officer, jailer, teacher
(1) cases often fit within assault or battery, but laws have been enacted especially for (2), (3) and (4).`
- abuse
- child abuse
- spousal abuse
- abuse of elderly
The common law offense of taking another’s property was (1), which consisted of (2) someone else’s property with intent to (3). Two statutory offenses stemming from larceny were (4) and (5).
- larceny (trespass)
- taking away (caption and asportation)
- permanently deprive the other person
- false pretenses
- embezzlement
Today, “theft” is proscribed more generally and the seriousness is based on (1) or (2). (3) also sometimes come into play when classifying degree of theft. Another part of theft that has narrow subdivisions is (4).
- value of the goods stolen
- type of goods stolen (firearms, will)
- local economic interests (livestock, building materials)
- computer crime
At common law, (1) was larceny plus force or placing the person in fear, making it both a (2) and a (3). (4) and (5) factor into degree of this crime. The Supreme Court has rejected the notion of (6).
- robbery
- property crime
- crime against the person
- extent of force used
- vulnerability of the victim
- “conditional intent”–intent to hurt the victim only if he does not comply
A branch-off of robbery in many statutes is (1)–taking a motor vehicle by force.
- carjacking
In contrast to common law, (1) and (2)–which requires an intent to defraud–is now a felony.
- forgery
2. utterance of a forgery (passing)
(1), in modern day, are usually misdemeanors and prosecution can be avoided by making prompt restitution. This is in contrast to (2), which is prosecuted as larceny or theft.
- worthless-check statutes
2. credit card fraud
(1) involves pretending to be another person, by using a (2) or other identifying information, to acquire credit lines or make large purchases. Use of (3) by (4) to secure employment has been ruled exempt from identity theft prosecution because thieves have to know they are actually stealing someone’s identity.
- Identity theft
- social security number
- randomly-selected social security numbers
- illegal immigrants
2 types of habitation offenses
- burglary
2. arson
4 parts of burglary by common law standards
- breaking and entering
- dwelling
- during nighttime (has been revoked by statutes)
- intent to commit a felony
2 things that can make a burglary more serious
- done to a home
2. used burglar’s tools
4 ways arson statutes have modernized
- includes more than just dwellings (cars, structures)
- includes explosives
- includes smoke damage
- includes burning property to defraud insurance company
(1) is a misdemeanor often identified as vandalism and punishment is related to (2). (3) is basically blackmail.
- Malicious mischief
- value of property injured/destroyed
- blackmail
6 common types of white-collar crimes (done in course of occupation)
- tax evasion
- embezzlement
- various forms of fraud
- environmental crime
- violation of food and drugs acts
- obstruction of justice
Sometimes (1) are also categorized as white-collar crimes.
- civil rights violations
6 crimes uniquely referred to as white-collar
- antitrust violations
- bid rigging
- price fixing
- money laundering
- insider trading
- tax fraud
(1) is often seen in an attempt to gain political influence through graft and corruption. It includes prostitution and gambling but found its roots in (2). RICO seeks to stop (3) efforts, which extort money from businesses in exchange for protecting them from vandalism and theft.
- Organized crime
- distribution of alcohol during Prohibition
- racketeering
4 most common vice crimes
- prostitution
- obscenity
- gambling
- drug/alcohol offenses
The (1) prevented transportation of females across state lines for “immoral purposes.”
- Mann Act
At common law, obscene language/exhibitions were considered a (1) and punishable as (2). Mass communications in the 50s brought obscenity to the forefront, but it was (3). This was changed in the cases (4) and (5).
- private nuisance
- misdemeanors
- poorly defined
- Roth v. United States
- Miller v. California
3 guidelines for a jury determining obscenity
- whether “average person” would consider it prurient
- whether works depicts/describes sexual conduct defined by state law in a patently offensive way
- whether it lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value
In New York v. Ferber, the SC unanimously held that (1), like obscenity, is unprotected by the first Amendment. It also refined the “social value” part of the obscenity test to being gauged by a (2).
- child pornography
2. reasonable person