Crim Law Flashcards
MPC Defn acting purposefully:
defendant’s conscious object to engage in certain conduct or cause a certain result
Kidnapping Defn
Movement (i.e., “asportation”) or Concealment of the victim in a “secret” place (w/o consent)
Battery Defn !!!
(general intent)
unlawful application of force to another resulting in bodily injury or an offensive touching.
CL False Imprisonment Defn
unlawful confinement of a person without his valid consent.
Assault - Specific or General Intent?
Specific Intent when based on attempted battery
Accessory after the Fact: elements
One who w/ intent to help FELON escape or avoid arrest or trial or conviction, receives, relieves, comforts or assists a known felon AFTER the felony has been completed.
Liable for Obstructing justice, but NOT liab for principal’s crime
Attempt Elements
D is guilty of attempt if D commits act of perpetration w/ intent to commit the intended target crime.
1. a SPECIFIC INTENT to commit the target crime, (ex. intent to kill, intent for serious harm NOT suff)
and
2. an overt act in furtherance of that intent beyond mere preparation. (a substantial step toward commission)
3. falls short of crime
Doctrine of Merger applies!
Defense: Impossibility and Merger, NOT abandonment!
“hub and spoke” conspiracy
subagreements must be reasonably independent of each other. Ex. show that the members of each agreement (other than the common member) have little or no interest in whether the other agreements succeed.
“chain” relationship conspiracy
each party is interested in or dependent on all subagreements
Intent Necessary for Conspiracy
(specific Intent)
need both
i) intent to agree and
ii) the intent to achieve the objective of the conspiracy
The Wharton Rule
where two or more people are necessary for the commission of the substantive offense, there is no crime of conspiracy unless at least 1 more party participates in the agreement than are necessary for the crime.
Under the Redline case,
felony murder liability does NOT attach when innocent/police kill a co-felon. (Majority view)
“Agency” theory of felony murder,
the person doing the killing must be the defendant or the defendant’s agent.
Ex. if someone who does NOT have a stake in the felony (e.g., a police officer, a resisting victim) accidentally kills another, the person committing the felony cannot be held liable for felony murder.
proximate cause” theory of felony murder,
felons are liable for the deaths of innocent victims caused by someone other than a co-felon when the felons put into operation a series of events that proximately cause the death of an innocent party, regardless of who actually killed the victim.
Voluntary Intoxication may be a defense for:
D voluntarily and knowingly consumed alcohol or drugs.
ONLY specific intent crimes bc D is so intoxicated he cannot form specific intent/knowledge required for crime. (defense for 1st degree murder!, but NOT 2nd degree to Manslaughter)
NOT a defense to common law MALICE crimes or crimes requiring a RECKLESS or NEG state of mind (i.e., general intent crimes).
Mc’Naghten Insanity Rule requires
As a result of mental (cognitive) defect, D did NOT:
1. know the wrongfulness of his actions while he committed them
or 2. understand the nature and quality of his actions.
A person may use deadly force to defend herself when
she is without fault, she is confronted with unlawful force, and she is threatened with imminent death or great bodily harm.
she need not retreat first
CL Burglary
Trespassory breaking and entering of the protected structure of another at night w/ intent to commit a felony therein (Specific Intent, no consent, crime of possession so owner can burglarize own bldg if tenant)
At CL, the elements of burglary are:
(i) a Breaking -
Actual -physical mvmt of door/window or
MODERN - Constructive entry by Misrep/Fraud
(ii) AND entering into (body or tool enters);
(iii) of the dwelling or subpart (CL) OR bldg (Maj),
(iv) of another (occupancy);
(v) at nighttime; (not always required)
(vi) with the intent of committing a felony therein (WHEN ENTERING! later formed intent is NOT suff).
! BARRK crime for felony Murder!
Ex.s of Aggravated Battery
(i) a deadly weapon is used; (ii) A serious bodily injury is inflicted; and (iii) the victim is a child, woman, or police officer.
Forgery consists of
- the making or altering
- of a false writing
- with the intent to defraud.
Malice Quartet in CL Murder
- intent to kill (look at words/use of weapon - CAN be 1st degree
- intent to inflict great bodily injury (at most 2nd D)
- reckless indifference to known unjustifiably high risk of death (depraved heart) (at most 2nd degree)
or 4. Felony Murder - intent to commit underlying inherently dangerous felony (CAN be 1st degree)
1st Degree murder requires:
Premeditation and Deliberation: Premed: some time of cool reflection on idea of killing, and Delib: D acted in calm cool mindset OR Felony Murder BAARK Crime!!!
involuntary manslaughter
(homicide) killing committed w/o malice, and w/ no justification or excuse (mitigation doesn’t apply)
committed w/:
1. Criminal Negligence (gross neg) OR
2. Intent to inflict slight bodily harm, no weapon OR
3. killing during perpetration of crime that is NOT inherently dangerous BARRK;
OR
4. Misdemeanor Manslaughter -misdemeanor Act is inherently wrongful (malum in se), (exs. misd battery, larceny, public intoxication, or in possession of drugs)
NOT malum prohibitum: exs. driving w/ suspended license, unpaid tool, unlawful firearm possession, defacing a flag
voluntary manslaughter
killing committed w/ malice, but mitigated by duress of adequate provocation requiring both objective and subjective passion and no cooling off.
1. provocation suff to arouse sudden and intense passion in mind of ordinary person such that he’d lose control (OBJ) and
2. D was in FACT provoked (SUBJ) and
3. insuff time to cool off (OBJ)
and 4. D did not in fact cool off (SUBJ)
ex. struck staggering blow; spouse in act of adultery
willful action
knowledge; act aware of what consequences will be
robbery
(Larceny +force/threat)
- taking of personal prop from person or his immediate vicinity,
- by force or threat of force of IMMEDIATE bodily harm,
- with intent to permanently deprive him of it; (force sufficient to overcome resistance of victim)
! Felony Murder BARRK Crime!
receipt of stolen property
- receiving possession and control of stolen personal property,
- KNOWING at time of receipt to have been obtained in a manner constituting a criminal offense
- by another person with the intent to permanently deprive owner of his interest in prop (Specific Intent)?
MPC/ALI Insanity
Due to mental defect, D lacked substantial capacity to either
1. appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct OR
2. conform his conduct to the law
(combo M’Naghten and and II Tests)
Durham Insanity Test
(not followed anymore, but worth points)
D entitled to acquittal because crime was product of mental disease or defect
irresistible impulse test
As a result of mental defect, D is unable to:
- control his actions or
- conform his conduct to the law.
Larceny
- Trespassory taking AND carrying away of TANGIBLE PERSONAL prop of another (slight mvmt is suff)
- with intent to permanently deprive him of it or creating substl risk of loss (abandon); [can decide later to steal]
- w/o consent before taking
(crime of possession, so rightful owner can commit larceny against his own prop)
Assault
2 types
- Attempted Battery (need specific intent to cause imminent harmful contact) OR
- intentional creation of a reasonable apprehension in the mind of the victim of imminent bodily harm (general intent)
negligence
person fails to be aware that a substantial and unjustifiable risk exists or that a result will follow, constituting a substantial deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise under the circumstances (less than Crim Neg)
Crim Neg
greater deviation from standard of care than regular neg - near knowledge of true risk of his actions
Transferred Intent Doctrine
If D intended injury to a person, and in trying to carry out that intent cause similar injury to another her intent is transferred from the intended person to the one harmed; any mitigating circumstances will also transfer
warrentless search of premises valid if Consent
voluntary and intelligent consent to search as long as police reasonably believe that consenting partry had equal right to use or occupy premises (even if lacked right); NOT ok if co-tenant present and objects
parens patriae
allows gov to take role of parent of someone under disability or minority
Miranda Warning Required if
Custodial Interrogation - Objective Tests
1. in police CUSTODY
objective test whether a reasonable person under the circumstances would think that he is not free to leave; person’s freedom of action being constrained in significant way?
(roadside detention NON custodial in nature SCOTUS)
2. being INTERROGATED
Any police conduct that officers know or should know is likely to elicit an incriminating response. routine booking questions do not count
Waiver must be knowing, voluntary, & intelligent (totality); if knowingly voluntarily confessed after miranda = waiver of miranda
*does NOT apply to spontaneous statements NOT made in response to interrogation; if voluntary statement is IN; if coerced statement is out
invocation of right to remain silent
must be explicit and unequivocal, then questions must stop until gets counsel, or D resumes questioning
accomplice
person who w/ intent the crime be committed, aids, encourages or counsels the principal.
-Accomp is liable for ALL crimes of Principal that he encouraged, were committed during felony or fleeing AND were forseeable result of felony
Conspiracy
specific intent crime - agmt between 2 or more persons to accomplish some criminal or unlawful purpose.
1. AGMT between 2 or more guilty persons (express or implied, need not meet) (CL)
Unilateral - only need 1 person
2. specific intent to ENTER into agmt and
3. specific intent to ACHIEVE objective of agmt
4. Maj MBE requires OVERT ACT, but mere Preparation WILL suffice in furtherance of unlawful objective
*NO Merger
ALL conspirators LIABLE only if crime
1. reasonably forseeable AND
2. reasonably further conspiracy!!
Maj - all must agree, so faker does not count
Min - one guilty mind is enough if believed faker agreed (unilateral)
Defense: Impossibility
**CL - Conspirators can be charged as an accomplice for aiding and abetting the crime, but the same liab test for conspiracy would apply (forseeable and in furtherance)
Elements for Commission of Crime
- Actus Reas
- Mens Rea
- **Concurrence of #1 and #2 (same time, ex. Larceny intent)
- Causal Connection
- Harm
Murder defn CL rule
Unlawful killing of human being (homicide) w/ malice aforethought, no justification, excuse or mitigation.
depraved heart
extreme recklessness - unjustifiably high risk to human life
Felony Murder Rule
Unintentional killing that occurs during attempt or commission of INHERENTLY Dangerous Felony -BARRK burglary, arson, rape, robbery, kidnapping
1st DEGREE murder!!
! (malice for murder implied from underlying felony)
!-ONLY applies if underlying Felony is INDEPENDENT from killing (ex. assault/battery leads to death and NOT independent) AND
Felony must be forseeable PROX cause of killing (but this is usually easy)
-must be during perpetration of crime (betw attempt and place of temp safety)
Minority - includes non BARRK crimes done in dangerous manner
split - some states will hold felon liab if 1 innocent kills another during crime, some won’t
Maj. - won’t hold felon liable if non felon kills conspirator
reckless / General intent
conscious disregard of a substantial or unjustifiable risk that prohibited result will follow - gross deviation from standard of reasonable care
Knowingly
Aware to a substantial certainty, that conduct is of the proscribed nature or that the proscribed circumstances exist; knows conduct will necessarily or very likely cause such result; high standard;
willful ignorance does not negate knowledge?
Mistake of Law
NO defense, even if reasonable
Mistake of Fact
Available Defense for all crimes w/ required mental state EXCEPT Attempt & Conspiracy -
IF D has REASONABLE Mistake of Fact or IGNORANT of fact that negates required mental state, he is NOT guilty of the crime.
IF D has UNREASONABLE mistake or ignorance of a fact, mistake is a defense ONLY IF crime is SPECIFIC Intent crime. (ie no defense for general intent crime)
Solicitation
SPECIFIC INTENT
D is guilty of solicitation if D ASKS or REQUESTS another to commit a crime w/ SPECIFIC INTENT the person solicited commits the crime.
(inciting, counseling, advising, urging, or commanding)
-occurs at moment D ask/encourages/requests.
- Doctrine of Merger applies - Solicitation will MERGE into Attempt or completed crime - cannot find guilty for both solicit and crime itself
- Solicitation will often lead to CONSPIRACY!
CRIME @ the time the solicitation is made.
NOT necessary that the person solicited to agree to commit the crime or do anything in response.
Aid & Abet, General Rule
one (14 or older) who 1. AIDS, COUNSELS, COMMANDS Or ENCOURAGES another in the commission of crime;
and 2. who is PRESENT when crime is Committed
Principal need NOT be found guilty
EXCEPTIONS:
1. members of a class sought to be protected by statute violated are exempt from liab
2. ?
3. ?
Doctrine of Merger
if crime is actually carried out, original crime (solicitation/Attempt) merges into the actual crime, and D cannot be liable for both attempt and intended crime
Charge Dropped/lesser offense against 1 party in conspiracy?
will not preclude conviction of remaining D; only acquittal will preclude
Valid withdrawal from conspiracy/Accomplice/Accesory
- affirmative act of repudiation communicated to ALL members of Conspiracy that D is no longer a participant (or if more involved - repudiating encouragement or neutralizing assistance)
- must be timely, before crime, in time for them to abandon plans
NOTE: Some juris require police alert (MPC tattle tale is not Liab for conspiracy)
Result: Still guilty for Conspiracy, but NOT for Crime
Arson
Malicious burning of protected structure in possession by another (only need malice, not intent);
Malice - intent to burn OR knowledge of extremely high risk of structure burning.
Any malice is suff so transferred intent is not needed here; can be liable for arson of your own building if in possession by another
NEED charring of STRUCTURE itself, non fixtures not suff.
CL - must be DWELLING house
Modern - any structure
embezzlement
(1) the fraudulent conversion (2) of the property of another (3) by a person in lawful possession
False Pretenses
- acquisition of TITLE
- to personal property of another
- by Intentional false statement of a past/existing fact or MPC false promise (know false or willfully ignorant)
- w/ intent to defraud the other and victim is deceived
Larceny by trick
Larceny plus victim’s apparent consent
- obtaining POSSESSION (taking/carrying away)
- of personal property of another
- w/ intent to permanently deprive
- by Intentional false statement of a past/existing fact or MPC false promise (know false or willfully ignorant
- (w/ intent to defraud and victim is deceived)
Extortion (Blackmail)
CL - corrupt collection of unlawful fee by officer under color of office;
Modern - obtaining property by means of threats to do harm or to expose information
Threats may be of Future harm (unlike robbery)
malicious mischief
malicious destruction of or damage to the property of another (malice = intended or contemplated)
mayhem
dismemberment or disablement of body part of another
perjury
intentional taking of a false oath in regard to material matter (might affect outcome) in judicial proceeding