Criminal Law & Procedure - General Flashcards
How does a state have jurisdiction over a crime?
(1) The conduct occurred there, or
(2) The result occurred there
When is there a merger in crimes, meaning the ∆ can’t be charged with both crimes?
(1) Solicitation, and
(2) attempt
merge into the substantive offense
What are the essential elements of a crime?
(1) A voluntary act or omission
(2) Mental State
What are the ways that a duty to act may arise?
(1) Statute requires (ex: file taxes)
(2) Contract (ex: nurse)
(3) Relationship (parent must protect)
(4) Voluntary assumption of a duty
(5) ∆’s own conduct created the peril
What are the four common law mental states of a crime?
(1) Specific Intent Crime
(2) Malice Crimes
(3) General Intent Crimes
(4) Strict liability crimes
What are the Specific Intent Crimes? (11)
Students Can Always Fake A Laugh Even For Ridiculous Bar Facts
- Solicitation (inchoate offense)
- Conspiracy (inchoate offense)
- Attempt (inchoate offense)
- First Degree Murder
- Assault
- Larceny
- Embezzlement
- False Pretenses
- Robbery
- Burglary
- Forgery
What is a Malice Crime, and what are those crimes? (2)
Malice = Reckless indifference
1) Murder (common law, which is 2nd degree
(2) Arson
What are the general intent crimes?
(1) Rape
(2) Battery
How do you identify a strict liability crime?
(1) If the crime is in the administrative, regulatory, or morality area, and
(2) there are no adverbs in the statute
Then it is meant to be a no-intent (strict liability) crime
If a state has adopted the Model Penal Code (MPC) what are the mental states that will be used?
(1) Purposely = conscious objective to engage in certain conduct or cause a certain result
(2) Knowingly = aware that his or her conduct will very likely cause the result
(3) recklessly = consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk
(4) Negligently = fails to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk
What is an “accomplice”?
One who aids, advises, or encourages the principal in the commission of the crime charaged.
What intent must accomplices have to be charged under the crime?
The same requisite intent as the substantive crime that has been committed
What criminal liability do accomplices have?
Accomplices are liable for the crime itself and all other foreseeable crimes.
How may an accomplice withdraw and cut off future criminal liability?
(1) If accomplice encouraged the crime, must repudiate the encouragement
(2) If accomplice aided with assistance, must do everything possible to neutralize this assistance, or
(3) May withdraw by contacting police
What are the inchoate offenses?
(1) Solicitation
(2) Conspiracy
(3) Attempt
What is “solicitation?”
(1) Asking someone to commit a crime. Crime is finished after the question is asked.
(2) Not necessary for person to agree to commit the crime
(3) If person agrees, solicitation merges into conspiracy
(4) Factual impossibility is no defense
What is “conspiracy?”
(1) An agreement with intent to pursue an unlawful objective + overt act (minority does not require overt act)
For what crimes is a conspirator liable?
Every conspirator liable for all crimes if they were:
- (a) foreseeable, and
- (b) in furtherance of the conspiracy
What is the difference between the Common Law approach to Conspiracy and the MPC approach?
(1) Common law requires bilateral agreement
(2) Modern trend and MPC only require one party to have genuine criminal intent
What counts as an overt act for a charge of conspiracy?
Any little act if it is in furtherance of conspiracy. Even mere preparation works for conspiracy.
What is an “attempted” crime?
(1) Specific intent + substantial overt act (more than preparation)
(2) Abandonment as a defense: depends on jurisdiciton
Is abandonment a valid defense to a charge of an attempted crime?
(1) Majority: after substantial step, no.
(2) MPC: Only if:
- (a) abandonment is fully voluntary, and
- (b) a complete renunciation of criminal purpose
Is impossibility a valid defense to an attempted crime?
(1) Legal impossibility (thing isn’t a crime) IS a defense
(2) Factual impossibility is not a defense
What are the tests for a defendant’s insanity?
(1) N’Naughten Rule
(2) Irresistible impulse
(3) Durham Rule
(4) Model Penal Code definition
What is the M’Naughten definition?
If:
(1) At the time of conduct, ∆ lacked the ability to KNOW THE WRONGFULNESS OF HIS ACTIONS or understand the nature and quality of his actions
Then he was insane.
What is the “irresistible impulse” definition?
If:
the ∆ LACKED CAPACITY FOR SELF CONTROL and free choice,
then ∆ was insane.
What is the Durham definition?
If:
the ∆’s conduct was a PRODUCT OF MENTAL ILLNESS,
then ∆ was insane.
What is the Model Penal Code definition of insanity?
If
∆ lacked THE ABILITY TO CONFORM HIS CONDUCT to the requirements of the law,
then ∆ was insane
Is intoxication a valid defense?
(1) voluntary: only for specific intent crimes
(2) involuntary: valid defense to all crimes
Is infancy a defense?
(1) Under age 7: no criminal liability
(2) Under age 14: rebuttable presumption of no criminal liability
In jurisdictions requiring retreat prior to using deadly self-defense force, what are the exceptions?
No duty to retreat if the ∆ was a victim of a rape or robbery.
Police officers also have no duty to retreat.
Is there a duty to retreat prior to using deadly force?
Majority: no
Minority: yes, but not in one’s home or other exceptions.
How may an original aggressor get back to a “self defense” defense?
Original aggressor MUST:
(1) withdrawn, and
(2) communicate withdrawal
Is “defense of others” a valid defens?
(1) Yes, if ∆ reasonably believed that the person assisted would have had the right to use force in his own defense
(2) Majority: no need for a “special relationship”
Is defense of a dwelling a valid defense?
(1) Yes, but deadly force may never be used solely to protect property.
What are the requirements for “duress” as a defense, and what are its limitations?
Requirements:
(1) ∆ acted under threat of imminent infliction of death or great bodily harm (to ∆ or 3rd person), and
(2) ∆’s belief was reasonable
Limitation:
(1) NOT a defense to homicide
When is “necessity” a valid defense, and how does it differ from duress as a defense?
Defense to property crimes, if:
(1) Due to pressure from natural forces, ∆ reasonably believed that conduct was necessary to prevent a greater societal harm
Differs from duress b/c duress is in response to human threat, and necessity is in response to a natural force.
When is mistake of fact a valid defense?
- General Rule: mistake of fact is a defense when it negates intent
- Malice & General Intent Crimes: mistake must be reasonable
- Specific Intent Crimes: mistake does NOT have to be reasonable
- Strict Liability Crimes: NEVER a valid defense
What is the difference between a “mistake of fact” defense and a “factual impossibility” defense?
(1) Mistake of fact: ∆ never had intent to commit crime
(2) Factual Impossibility: ∆ had intent, but crime is not possible under the circumstances
Is consent of the victim generally a defense?
NO.
When is “entrapment” a valid defense, and what should you look for as a tip to analyze this defense?
Valid only if:
(1) the criminal design originated with law enforcement officers, AND
(2) the ∆ must not have been predisposed to commit the crime
Tip off: undercover cops
What are the elements of Battery?
(1) Unlawful application of force to the person,
(2) Resulting in bodily injury or offensive touching
What intent is required for the crime of battery?
General intent
What are the elements of Assault?
(1) attempt to commit a battery, OR
(2) The intentional creation (other than mere words) or a reasonable apprehension of, imminent bodily harm
What are the elements of Aggravated Assault?
(1) the use of deadly or dangerous weapon, OR
(2) with the intent to rape, maim, or murder
What is the definition or murder (generally)?
Murder = unlawful killing of another human being with MALICE AFORETHOUGHT
What is “malice aforethought?”
Malice aforethought =
(1) intent to kill
(2) intent to inflict great bodily harm
(3) intent to commit a felony, or
(4) reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life
How is “proximate cause” analyzed for the crime of murder?
(1) ∆ is responsible for all results that occur as a NATURAL AND PROBABLE CONSEQUENCE for his conduct
(2) Even if ∆ did not anticipate the exact manner in which those consequences would occur
What are the three categories of First Degree Murder?
(1) Premeditated killing: ∆ acted w/ intent/knowledge that his conduct would cause death
(2) Felony Murder
(3) Homicide of Police Officer
What is Felony Murder?
(1) Any foreseeable killing (even accidental) committed during the course of a felony
(2) Including while fleeing, unless ∆ reaches temporary safety first
What are the defenses to Felony Murder?
(1) Defense to underlying felony = defense to felony murder
Can the death of a co-felon result in the ∆ being convicted of Felony Murder?
∆ is not liable for death of a co-felon as a result of:
(1) resistance by the victim, or
(2) police killing co-felon
What are the requirements for the homicide of a Police Officer to count as First Degree Murder?
(1) ∆ must have known that victim was a police officer, and
(2) officer must be acting in the line of duty
What are the two categories of Second-Degree murder?
(1) Depraved Heart Killing: reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life
(2) Murders otherwise not classified as 1st Degree Murder
What are the three categories of Manslaughter?
(1) Voluntary Manslaughter
(2) Imperfect Self-Defense Manslaughter
(3) Involuntary Manslaugther
What are the elements of Voluntary Manslaughter?
(1) heat of passion resulting from adequate provocation
(2) sudden and intense passion in the mind of an ordinary person such to cause him lose control
(3) no sufficient time for reasonable person to cool off, and
(4) ∆ did not, in fact, cool off
What are the elements of Imperfect Self-Defense Manslaughter?
∆ had honest, but unreasonable, belief that life was in imminent danger and killed victim.