Crim Flashcards
What are the specific intent crimes? Why is the consequence of this characterization?
- Conspiracy
- Solicitation
- Attempt
- First Degree Murder [note: req. premeditation]
- Assault
- Larceny
- Embezzlement
- False Pretenses
- Robbery
- Burglary
- Forgery
-These crimes qualify for the additional defenses of (i) VOLUNTARY INTOXICATION and (ii) UNREASONABLE MISTAKE OF FACT
What are the malice crimes?
- Common Law Murder
- Arson
Malice crimes require reckless indifference
Common Law Murder
Killing will malice aforethought. Malice aforethought can be established by (i) intent to kill (ii) intent to inflict great bodily harm; (iii) reckless disregard for an unjustifiably high risk to human life [depraved heart]; or (iv) a killing committed during the course of an inherently dangerous [B-A-R-R-K] felony.
~~ second degree murder
First Degree Murder
(i) premeditated and deliberate killing
(ii) enumerated felony murder
What are the general intent crimes?
- Battery
- False Imprisonment
- Kidnapping
- Rape
General intent = acting with awareness of all factors constituting the crime
MPC Analysis of Fault (mental states)
- Purposely: conscious object
- Knowingly: aware of the nature of conduct/existing circumstances, or high probability
- Recklessly: disregard for substantial and unjustifiable risk; gross deviation from standard of care
- Negligently: failure to be aware of substantial and unjustifiable risk
To what crimes does transferred intent apply?
- Homicide
- Battery
- Arson
Accomplice Liability [∆ + liability]
Principal: person who commits illegal act or causes agent to do so
––Liability: liable for principal crime
Accomplice: person who aids or encourages P to commit the illegal conduct
––Liability: liable for principal crime if accomplice intended to aid or encourage crime
Accessory After the Fact: person who aids another to escape knowing P has committed a felony
––Liability: liable for separate, less serious crime of being an accessory after the fact
Accomplice Liability: required mental state
(1) intent to facilitate the principal and (2) intent that principal commit the substantive offense
Note: mere knowledge that crime will result is not enough (e.g., store clerk who sells crowbar when customer has said he is going to use it to break into a house and steal is NOT sufficient to be an accomplice to burglary)
Accomplice Liability: withdrawal
To avoid liability, person must withdraw before the crime becomes unstoppable.
––If accomplice merely encouraged P, repudiation is sufficient
––If accomplice went beyond mere encouragement, then needs to attempt to neutralize his assistance
––––Notifying the police = sufficient
Solicitation
Asking or advising someone to commit a crime, with the intent that the person solicited commit the crime.
Note: renunciation/withdrawal is not a defense
Note: merger applies (i.e., if solicitor asks a person to commit robbery, and that person does it, both the solicitor and the person can be convicted of robbery, but the solicitor cannot also be convicted of solicitation, b/c solicitation merged)
Conspiracy
(1) agreement b/n 2+ persons
(2) intent to agree
(3) intent to achieve object of agreement
CL: must be bilateral (i.e., between 2 or more persons (no feigning agreement)), but overt act is not required
MPC: can be unilateral (i.e., only one party has genuine criminal intent), but over act is required (which can be satisfied by mere preparation)
Wharton Rule
Where 2 or more people are necessary for commission of crime, a conspiracy requires that more people participate than are necessary for the crime (e.g., adultery)
Conspiracy: what happens if only 1 of the defendants is charged and tried? what happens if all defendants are tried, and all are acquitted except for one?
If only 1 ∆ is charged and tried, that does NOT preclude a conviction for conspiracy
If all but one ∆ is acquitted, that last ∆ cannot be convicted of conspiracy (b/c the acquittals show he had no one to conspire with!)
When does a conspiracy end? Are acts of concealment part of conspiracy?
Upon completion of the wrongful objective. Acts of concealment are not part of a conspiracy, unless otherwise agreed to in advance.
When will a conspirator be liable for a co-conspirator’s crimes?
When those crimes were committed in furtherance of the conspiracy and were foreseeable
Conspiracy: withdrawal
Withdrawal is NOT a defense to conspiracy itself, but is a defense to the substantive crimes of co-conspirators (i.e., target crime + crimes committed in furtherance).
A person can withdraw by notifying ALL members of the conspiracy of her intent to withdraw. Notice must be given with sufficient time for co-conspirators to abandon their plans. If the person has provided assistance as an accomplice, she must take steps to neutralize.
Does conspiracy merge w/ target offense?
NO
Attempt
An act done with intent to commit a crime that falls short of completing the crime.
Specific intent crime.
Act: must go BEYOND mere preparation.
––Proximity test (act must be dangerously close to successful completion of crime)
––Substantial step test [majority + MPC]
Is abandonment a defense to attempt?
Not at common law. MPC allows it, provided the abandonment is fully voluntary and complete.
Note: merger applies
What are the four tests for insanity
i-M’Naghten: disease of the mind cause defect such that (a) ∆ did not know the WRONGFULNESS of his actions; OR (b) ∆ did not understand the NATURE + QUALITY of his actions
ii-Irresistible Impulse: because of mental disease, unable to control impulse or conform conduct to the law
iii-Durham (N.H.): BUT FOR the mental illness, ∆ would not have done the act
iv-MPC: mental disease that resulted in ∆ LACKING SUBSTANTIAL CAPACITY to (a) APPRECIATE the criminality of his conduct or (b) CONFORM his conduct to the law
- ∆ need not raise @ arraignment
- if ∆ raises the issue, he CANNOT refuse exam from court-appointed psychiatrist
- ∆ must prove insanity by PoTE
Diminished capacity
In some jx, ∆ can assert mental defect short of insanity. Typically limited to SI crimes.