Criminal Law Flashcards
Vagueness of Criminal Statute is…
Unconstitutional
Criminal statute must have these elements to be constitutional
(1) Fair warning
(2) no arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement
(3) No ex post facto laws or bills of attainder
Interpretations of conflicting criminal statutes
(1) prefer more specific to general
(2) prefer more recently enacted to older
(3) crimes committed before effective date of new code are subject to prosecution under the old code
Modern Law - Merger
(1) Cannot be convicted of both solicitation and completed crime.
(2) Cannot be convicted of both attempt and completed crime.
Does Conspiracy Merge?
No - one can be convicted of both conspiracy and the criminal act.
Double jeopardy
Cannot be convicted of a lesser offense if he’s been put on trial for the greater offense.
DOES NOT APPLY to two or more statutorily defined offenses arising from same transaction.
Elements of a Crime
(1) Physical act (actus reus)
(2) Mental state (mens rea)
(3) concurrence of physical and mental.
Some crimes also require harmful result
Physical Act requirements
It’s a bodily movement.
(1) voluntary physical act, or
(2) failed to act under a legal duty
Failed to act raises to liablity when these elements satisfied
(1) Legal duty to act
(2) D has knowledge of facts giving rise to act, and
(3) reasonably possible to perform the act
How are legal duty’s to act imposed?
(1) Statute
(2) Contract
(3) D/V relationship
(4) Creation of peril
(5) Voluntary assumption of care
(6) Possession
How is possession an Act?
Only need control over it for a long enough period to have enough time to terminate the possession.
Possession need only be within “dominion and control”
Must be aware of possession, but no need to be aware of its illegality
What are the different mental states?
(1) Specific intent
(2) Malice
(3) General intent
What are the crimes that require specific intent?
(1) Solicitation
(2) Attempt
(3) Conspiracy
(4) First degree murder
(5) Assault
(6) Larceny and robbery
(7) Burglary
(8) Forgery
(9) False pretenses
(10) Embezzlement
What are the malice crimes?
Reckless disregard of an obvious or high risk that the particular harmful result will occur.
(1) murder
(2) arson
What are the general intent crimes?
Almost all crimes require general intent - awareness he is acting in a proscribed way and that attendant circumstances exist. General intent found by merely doing the act.
What are the strict liability crimes?
Intent doesn’t matter.
(1) Rape
(2) Liquor to minors
(3) Bigamy
Mens rea state of mind differences between common law and MPC
common law - it’s about specific or general intent
MPC - it’s about fault (purposely, knowingly, recklessly, negligently).
What are the four mental states under MPC?
(1) Purposely
(2) Knowingly
(3) Recklessly
(4) Negligence
MPC Mental State - Purposely
Conscious object to engage in conduct
MPC Mental State - Knowingly
Awareness that conduct is of a nature that will cause a particular result
MPC Mental State - Recklessly
Conscious disregard and unjustifiable risk
MPC Mental State - Negligence
Failure to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk
Vicarious Liability definition
Hold third party liable for crimes of another. Limited to regulatory crimes and fines
Transferred intent applies to
(1) Homicide
(2) Battery
(3) Arson
DOES NOT APPLY TO ATTEMPT SCENARIOS
If transferred attempt applies, most likely liable for actual crime and attempt of the crime on the other person
Is motive relevant?
NO - ignore it
Parties to a crime - Common law
(1) principal in first degree (committed crime)
(2) principal in second degree (aided and was present)
(3) accessory before the fact (encouraged but not present)
(4) accessory after the fact (knowledge of felony and assisted in escape of arrest)
REQUIRES First principle conviction before any of the others can be convicted - this rule has been abandoned by most jurisdictions.
Parties to a crime - MPC
(1) Principal - liable for principal crime
(2) Accomplice - liable for principal crime if accomplice intended to aide in crime and all foreseeable results
(3) Accessory After the Fact - liable for separate, less serious crime of being an accessory after the fact.
Accompliance can be liable even if P is not!!!!!!!
Mental state for an accomplice
(1) intent principal commit the offense - mere knowledge not enough
Can be reckless or negligence if statute calls for it
Withdrawing as an accomplice limits
Withdraw must occur before crime committed
(1) Repudiate plan, or
(2) Neutralize assistance
What are the Inchaote offenses?
(1) Solicitation
(2) Conspiracy
(3) Attempt
Solicitation definition
Enticing another to commit a crime, with the intent that the solicited person commit the crime.
Withdraw NOT a defense
Merges with substantive defense
Conspiracy definition
(1) Agreement between two or more persons
(2) With intent to enter into an agreement
(3) Intent of two or more persons to achieve the objective of agreement
MPC (unilateral): Only one person needs a guilty mind (ex. undercover police officer). Common law (bilateral): Two people need guilty mind
Withdraw NOT a defense (except further crimes)
Does NOT merge with substantive offense
Attempt definition
Act done with intent to commit a crime that falls short of the crime.
MPC: act is substantial step
Common law: act is dangerously close to completion of crime
Withdraw NOT a defense
Merges with substantive offense
Insanity Defense - M’Naghten Rule
“M’ N I don’t know right from wrong or understand my actions!”
D does not know right from wrong or understand his actions
Insanity Defense - Irresistible Impulse
Impulse that D cannot resist or cannot conform to the law
Insanity Defense - Durham
Product of mental disease
Insanity Defense - MPC (Modern)
I can’t appreciate or conform!
Mental Condition - Constitutional Limits
Cannot be tried or convicted if (1) unable to understand nature of proceedings or (2) unable to assist lawyer in preparation of defense
Diminished Capacity
Allowed to argue - short of a mental defect but limited to specific intent crimes
Voluntary Intoxication
Intentional taking of substance. Intoxication defense allowed to specific intent crimes ONLY. No defense to:
(1) General intent crimes
(2) strict liability, or malice, recklessness or negligent crimes
(3) Second degree murder (depraved heart)
Involuntary Intoxication
Taking substance without knowledge or pursuant to medical advice. Treated as mental illness - may be a defense to alllllllll crimes
Infancy
Common law: Under 7 - defense to all crime
Common law: Under 14 - Rebuttable presumption of defense
MPC: Defense to adult crimes but may still be delinquent
Force allowed: Self Defense
Nondeadly: reasonably believes force necessary to protect himself
Deadly: without fault, reasonably believes death or great bodily harm
Force allowed: Defense of Others
Same as self defense
Force allowed: Defense of Dwelling
Nondeadly: Reasonably believes necessary to prevent or end unlawful entry
Deadly: Reasonably believes he is threatened or prevent felony inside
Force allowed: Defense of Other Property
Nondeadly: Reasonably believes necessary to defense property in his possession (only after requesting desist)
Deadly: NEVER
Force allowed: Crime Prevention
Nondeadly: Reasonably believes necessary to PREVENT felony or serious breach of peace
Deadly: Reasonably believes necessary PREVENT felony involving SERIOUS BODILY HARM
Force allowed: Arrest by Police Officer
Nondeadly: Reasonably APPEARED guilty and force necessary for arrest
Deadly: Prevent escape AND SERIOUS BODILY HARM
Force allowed: Arrest by private citizen
Nondeadly: Crime WAS committed and reasonable belief that is the person who committed it
Deadly: ONLY IF person person actually guilty and serious bodily harm
Force allowed: Necessity
Nondeadly: Reasonably necessary to avoid greater harm
Deadly: Never
Defense of Duress allowed…
as a defense to any crime EXCEPT HOMICIDE where he reasonably believed D would inflict great bodily harm on him, member of family, property if he did not commit the crime.
Necessity can be threat by anyone, Duress must be threat by a human
Is Mistake of Fact defense allowed?
Yes - available for all crimes except strict liability.
Specific intent: any mistake that negates intent
All other crimes: only reasonable mistakes
Is Mistake of law allowed?
NO - unless issue with the law itself (not published, reliance on interpretation in jurisdiction, etc.)
Is consent an allowable defense?
NO, unless part of law like rape
Is criminality of victim an allowable defense?
NO
Entrapment elements
(1) Criminal design originated with law enforcement officers
(2) D was not predisposed to commit the crime prior
(3) Only government actors (not private)
Aggravated battery definition
Battery resulting in serious bodily harm
Aggravated assault
Assault with a deadly weapon
Common Law: Murder
Killing of a human with malice aforethought. Malice aforethought is:
(1) Intent to kill
(2) Intent to inflict great bodily injury
(3) Reckless indifference to an unjustifiable high risk to human life
(4) Intent to commit a felony
Common Law: Voluntary Manslaughter
Would be murder but for adequate provocation. Provocation only if
(1) sudden and intense passion in the mind of an ordinary person
(2) D was in fact provoked
(3) Not sufficient time between provocation
(4) D did not cool off
Common Law: Involuntary manslaughter
Committed with criminal negligence. That is, was there a crime and they were acting recklessly?
Statutory defined murder: First Degree Murder
(1) D made decision to kill in cool and dispassionate matter and reflected on the idea of killing (premeditated).
Statutory defined murder: Felony Murder
Murder committed during felony, with
(1) D committed or attempt to commit felony
(2) Felony must be distinct
(3) Death foreseeable
(4) Death caused before D’s flight
(5) P was not a co-felon
Felony murder - Agency theory
Felons only repsonsible for killings by felon and agent
Felony murder - Proximate cause theory
Felons responsible for all forseeable killings and innocent victims, including killings by others that are not the accomplices.
To be guilty of murder, the Defendant’s conduct must be….
(1) cause in fact of the result and
(2) proximate cause.
Intervening causes like negligent medical care or victim’s refusal of medical treatment considered FORESEEABLE
Kidnapping definition
Unlawful confinement that involves movement or concealment of victim
Rape definition
No effective consent and slightest penetration
Statutory Rape
Strict liability crime - reasonable mistake does not prevent liability.
Second best answer - reasonable mistake as to age will prevent conviction if D reasonably believed victim was old enough to give consent
Larceny definition
(1) Taking
(2) and Carrying away
(3) personal property
(4) of another
(5) by trespass
(6) with intent to permanently (or for unreasonable time) deprive
- Ask if took when D had possession vs. custody. If had possession, not larceny, if only had custody, it is larceny.
- Cannot commit larceny against abandoned property, but can against mislaid or lost property
- INtent to borrow or repay debt - no larceny
Larceny vs. Embezzlment
If D already had possession when he took it, then its embezzlement
Embezzlment definition
(1) Fraudulent
(2) Conversion
(3) of personal property
(4) of another
(5) by a person in lawful possession
Larceny by False Pretenses
(1) Obtain title
(2) to personal property of another
(3) intentional false statements
(4) intent to defraud
Show that D had notice of high probability that P’s statements were false.
Robbery Definition
(1) A taking
(2) of personal property
(3) From the other’s person or presence
(4) by force or immediate threats
(5) intent to permanently deprive
Larceny vs. Robbery
Larceny - no force (pickpocketing)
Robbery - force required
Extortion Definition
Obtain property by means of threats to do harm or to expose information.
Receipt of stolen property definition
(1) Receiving possession and control
(2) Of “stolen” property
(3) Known to be obtained through crime
(4) by another person
(5) intent to permanently deprive owner of his interest
(6) at time D receives it
Forgery definition
(1) Making or altering
(2) A writing with apparent legal significance
(3) So that it is false
(4) Intent to defraud
If P knew he was signing doc - not forgery. If P doesn’t know he’s signing doc - forgery
Malicious Mischief definition
(1) malicious
(2) Destruction
(3) property of another
Common law: Burglary
(1) Breaking
(2) and entry
(3) of a dwelling
(4) of another
(5) at nighttime
(6) with intent to commit a felony AT THE TIME OF ENTRY
Common law: Arson
(1) Malicious
(2) Burning
(3) of the dwelling
(4) of another
Factual or legal impossibility defense in Attempt Charge
Factual - not a defense
Legal - only possible if the act wasn’t illegal
Attempted murder elements
REQUIRES specific intent to kill - even though regular murder does not
How to analyze a murder question
(1) Any state of mind present to constitute malice aforethought?
(2) If yes to (1), anything raise it to first degree murder? (premeditated)?
(3) If yes to (1), anything to lower it to vountary manslaughter due to adequate provocation?
(4) If no to (1), anything that would make it involuntary manslaughter? Criminal negligence or misdemeanor manslaughter
Larceny by trick vs. Larceny by false pretenses
Larceny by trick - does not involve title
Larceny by false pretenses - does involve title.
