Significance in Defining Crime

Question 1

Strict legal definitions confine crime to which acts?

Answer 1

Harmful to someone

Forbidden by law

Committed by an offender possessing a necessary state of mind (mens rea)

Casually related to the resulting harm (actus reus)

Prosecuted and punished by the state

Question 2

Defined as an intentional act or omission in violation of criminal law, committed without defense or justification and sanctioned by the law as a felony or misdemeanor.

Answer 2

Legal definition of crime

Question 3

Defined as an act by a member of a given group, which by the rest of the members of that group is regarded as so injurious or as showing such degree of anti-social attitude in the actor that the group publicly, overtly, and collectively reacts by trying to abrogate some of his rights.

Answer 3

Social definition of crime