Criminal Law & Procedure Flashcards
What are the elements of a crime?
Prosecution must prove all
elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt:
1) Voluntary Physical Act (actus reus);
2) Mental State (mens rea);
3) Causation (both actual and proximate cause);
AND
4) Concurrence (mental state and physical act
occur at the same time).
Priority: HIGH
Omission
is generally is NOT criminal unless:
1) D had a legal duty to act;
2) D had knowledge of facts concerning the duty to
act; AND
3) It was reasonably possible for D to act.
Duty to Act = contractual duty, parent-child relationship,
duty taken on voluntarily, statute creates a duty, or when
D creates the danger.
Priority: Medium
What does Causation require?
Requires both:
1) Actual Causation; AND
2) Proximate Cause.
Actual Causation → present when the result/injury
would not have occurred “but for” the D’s conduct.
Proximate Cause → injury must be foreseeable from
D’s act (it was a natural probable consequence).
Priority: HIGH
What is a Superseding Intervening Cause?
It is a third-party’s act that breaks the chain of causation. This normally cuts off the defendant’s liability.
An act will ONLY break the chain if the act was:
1) Independent of the defendant’s wrongful conduct; AND
2) Not foreseeable (it’s so out-of-the-ordinary that it’s not fair to hold D liable for the crime
Priority: HIGH
Mental States - the intent element of a crim (mens rea)
Under the Common Law, what mental state categories were used?
Common Law (CL):
Specific Intent – intent or desire to engage in the
conduct or cause a certain result.
General Intent – awareness of acting in a certain way.
Malice – reckless disregard of a known risk that harm
may occur.
Strict Liability – no mental state required; only the act is
required.
Priority: HIGH
Mental States - the intent element of a crim (mens rea)
Under the Model Penal Code, what mental state categories were used?
Purposefully – conscious object to engage in conduct
or cause a certain result.
Knowingly – aware that conduct is of a particular nature
or will cause a certain result.
Recklessly – consciously disregards a substantial and
unjustifiable risk + act is a gross deviation from how a
reasonable person would act.
− OR when a person creates such a risk, but is
unaware of it solely by reason of voluntary
intoxication.
Criminal Negligence – should have been aware of a
substantial and unjustifiable risk + that failure is a gross
deviation from the standard of care.
Willful Blindness Standard (majority of states)
A person is deemed to act knowingly when he is:
a) Aware that certain facts are highly probable; OR
b) Intentionally ignorant to certain facts.
*Knowledge may be proved by circumstantial evidence.
Common Law & Second Agree Murder Definition
Murder is the
(1) unlawful killing, (2) of a person, (3) with malice
aforethought.
Malice Aforethought =
(a) intent to kill;
(b) intent to inflict great bodily harm;
(c) reckless disregard of an extreme risk to human life (depraved-heart
murder); OR
(d) intent to commit an inherently dangerous felony (felony murder rule).
Malice Aforethought
Malice Aforethought =
(a) intent to kill;
(b) intent to inflict great bodily harm;
(c) reckless disregard of an extreme risk to human life (depraved-heart
murder); OR
(d) intent to commit an inherently dangerous felony (felony murder rule).
1st Degree Murder
The killing was willful, deliberate, AND premeditated.
MPC Murder
Killing of a person committed:
(a) purposefully or knowingly; OR
(b) recklessly under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to
the value of human life.
− Felony Murder Rule → recklessness is
presumed for burglary, arson, robbery, rape, & kidnapping. “BARRK”
Murder
Second Degree Murder
vs.
First Degree Murder
Second Degree Murder: The unlawful killing of a person with malice aforethought.
First Degree Murder: Occurs when the killing was wilful, deliberate AND premeditated.
Priority: HIGH
Murder
Felony Murder Rule
A person is guilty of murder if a person is killed during their:
a) Commission of (or attempt to commit) a dangerous felony; OR
b) Felony escape.
*Dangerous felony = burglary, arson, robbery, rape, & kidnapping. “BARRK”
Priority: HIGH
What is Voluntary Manslaughter?
An intentional killing of a person with adequate provocation.
Adequate provocation is established if:
1) The defendant was provoked (sudden and intense passion causing a loss of control);
2) A reasonable person would have been provoked;
3) There was not enough time to cool off; AND
4) The defendant in fact DID NOT cool off.
Priority: HIGH
What is Involuntary Manslaughter?
Unintentional killing of a person committed:
a) Recklessly;
b) Under the Misdemeanor Murder Rule;
c) During a non-dangerous felony; OR
d) with criminal negligence (in some states)
Priority: HIGH
What is Manslaughter under the Model Penal Code (MPC)?
The killing of a person:
a) Committed recklessly; OR
b) Committed under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance for which there is a reasonable explanation or excuse.
*The MPC doesn’t distinguish between voluntary/involuntary manslaughter.
Priority: HIGH
What are the elements of Larceny?
The:
1) Trespassory taking,
2) And carrying away,
3) Of the personal property of another,
4) With the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property (intent must exist at the time of taking)
*Larceny by Trick = when one obtains possession of another’s property by trick or deception.
Priority: HIGH
Larceny by Trick
obtain possession (not title) of the personal property of another by trick or deception.
What are the elements of False Pretenses?
It occurs when one:
1) Obtains title,
2) To personal property of another,
3) Through an intentional false statement of material fact,
4) With the intent to defraud.
*Opinion or commercial puffery is NOT false pretenses.
Priority: HIGH
What are the elements of Embezzlement?
1) The fraudulent or wrongful,
2) Conversion,
3) Of personal property of another,
4) By a person with lawful possession of the property.
-intent to permanently deprive the lawful owner of the property is required.
Priority: HIGH
What are the elements for the crime of Receiving Stolen Property?
When a person:
1) Receives possession of stolen property,
2) Who knows the property is stolen at the time of receiving it,
3) With the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.
Priority: HIGH
What are the elements of Robbery?
1) The trespassory taking and carrying away,
2) Of the personal property of another,
3) In their presence;
4) By the use of force or threat of immediate physical harm,
4) With the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.
*Armed robbery requires the elements above, PLUS the use of a dangerous weapon.
Priority: Medium
What are the elements of Burglary?
Burglary is:
1) The breaking and entering,
2) Of a dwelling,
3) Of another,
4) At night,
5) With the INTENT to commit a felony inside.
*Most jurisdictions have extended burglary to any structure at any time.
Priority: HIGH
Under the Common Law, what are the elements of Rape?
1) The unlawful sexual intercourse,
2) Of a woman by a man (not her husband),
3) Without her consent.
Modern definition–> includes marital rape (in most states) and makes gender irrelevant.
Priority: Medium