Crim Law Flashcards
(158 cards)
Crim Law
Under modern view, does solicitation merge into completed crime?
Yes, can’t be convicted of both solicitation and completed crime
Crim Law
Under modern view, does attempt merge into completed crime?
Yes, can’t be convicted of both attempt and completed crime
Crim Law
Under modern view, does conspiracy merge into completed crime?
No - you can be convicted of both conspiracy to commit the crime and the crime itself
Crim Law
Under modern view, can you be convicted of multiple inchoate crimes?
No, if your conduct was going to culminate in the same main offense, you can’t be convicted of multiple inchoate offenses; can’t be convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery
Crim Law
Can corporations be held liable for crimes?
Traditionally, held corporations do not have the capacity to commit crimes
But under modern statutes, corporations may be held liable for an act performed by:
(1) an agent of the corporation acting within the scope of their office or employment, or
(2) a corporate agent high enough in hierarchy to presume their acts reflect corporate policy
Crim Law
With accomplices, who are the parties to a crime?
Traditionally, (4) were possible:
Principals in the first degree: A person who actually engaged in the act or omission that contitutes the offense or who caused an innocent agent to do so
Principals in the second degree: Persons who aided, advised, or encouraged the principal and were present at the crime
Accessories before the fact: Persons who assisted or encouraged but were not present
Accessories after the fact: Person who, with knowledge that the other committed a felony, assisted them to escape arrest or punishment
BUT with modern statutes:
(3) are possible: principal, accomplice, accessory after the fact
Principal: one who, with the requisite mental intent, actually engages in the act or omission that causes the criminal result
Accomplice: one who aids, advises, or encourages the principal in the commission of the crime charged; they are liable for principal crime if accomplice intended to aid or encourage the crime
Accessory after the fact: one who assists another knowing that they have committed a felony in order to help them escape; separate than above; liable for separate, less serious crime of being an accessory after the fact
Crim Law
Who can be found guilty of the principal offense when it comes to accomplice liability?
Modern: The prinicipal and accomplice can be convicted of the principal crime; an accessory after the fact can be found liable for a separate, lesser charge, not the principal crime
Traditionally, it was that conviction of the principal was required for conviction of an accessory (but most jurisdictions have abandoned this requirement)
Crim Law
What are the elements of conspiracy?
A conspiracy requires:
(1) an agreement between two or more persons;
(2) an intent to enter into the agreement; and
(3) the intent by at least two persons to achieve the objective of the agreement (specific intent crime)
A conspiracy is complete when the agreement with the requisite intent was reached; no act needed
Crim Law
What type of act is needed to complete a conspiracy?
Traditionally, no act was needed - the conspiracy was complete when the agreement with the requisite intent was reached
But modern: Yes, an overt act is required but it can be mere preparation
Crim Law
For a conspiracy, does the agreement have to be express?
No, can be inferred; doesn’t need to be an express thing
Crim Law
Under traditional view, for a conspiracy to exist, what must the mindsets be of the parties when agreeing?
Traditionally was bilateral approach: requires two guilty minds; the people have to actually be committed to the illicit plan; the two parties have to have a specific intent to pursue an unlawful objective
But modern statutes it’s unilateral approach: Only one party needs to have a guilty mind for there to be a conspiracy; only one person needs to have the genuine criminal intent; so a defendant can be convicted of conspiracy if they are conspiring with an undercover cop or one person isn’t really planning on doing anything
Crim Law
Under traditional view, what must the mindsets be of the parties agreeing
Crim Law
In a trial for conspiracy, what happens if some/all of the conspiracy members are acquitted?
If there is an acquittal of all persons with whom a defendant is alleged to have conspired with, the remaining defendanat can’t be convicted either
So if defendant is charged and tried, and all the others have been acquitted, the defendant can’t be convicted because then there is no one for him to conspire with
But in some states, if one defendant has already been convicted, but then his co-conspirator is acquitted in another trial, the convicted defendant’s conviction may be allowed to stand - it wouldn’t get reversed then
Crim Law
Can one co-conspirator be held liable for crimes committed by the other co-conspirators?
Yes, if the crimes:
(1) were committed in furtherance of the objectives of the conspiracy; and
(2) were foreseeable
Crim Law
Is factual impossibility a defense to conspiracy?
No, factual impossibility is not a defense to conspiracy - so just because you could not actually commit the crime (you were planning on robbing something that isn’t actually there, for ex), you can still be convicted of the conspiracy
Crim Law
Is withdrawal a defense to conspiracy?
No, not generally - because the conspiracy is completed as soon as the act is made and an act in furtherance is performed
BUT: can be a defense to crimes committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, including the one you’re conspiring to do
So you can be found guilty of conspiracy but not the other crimes if you withdraw
Crim Law
With conspiracy, what would constitute an effective withdrawal from further crimes?
For a withdrawal to be effective:
(1) you must perform an affirmative act that notifies all members of your withdrawal,
(2) notice must be given in time for members to abandon their plans, AND
(3) you must try to neutralize any assistance given
Crim Law,
What constitutes solicitation?
Solicitation consists of asking, inciting, counseling, advising, urging, or commanding another to commit a crime with the intent that the person solicited commit that crime
Crim Law,
What impact does others’ convictions or acquittals have on the solicitation conviction?
It is not a defense - if the person who was solicited is not convicted, you the solicitor can still be convicted; different from conspirators
Crim Law
Is factual impossibility a defense for solicitation?
No, not a defense. Does not matter if the offense solicited could not in fact have been successful.
Crim Law
Is withdrawal/renunciation a defense to solicitation?
Traditionally, no, in most jurisdictions, it is not a defense that the solicitor (the one soliciting) renounces or withdraws from the solicitation; not a defense that they back away from the deal
With modern statutes: still generally no, but the MPC recognizes renunciation as a defense if the defendant prevents the commission of the crime, such as by persuading the person who was solicited not to commit the crime
Crim Law
How does legislative intent come into play with solicitation charges?
It is a defense that the solicitor could not be found guilty of the completed crime because of a legislative intent to exempt them - so if a statute is designed to protect a group, they can’t be found guilty of solicitation for that crime
Ex: minor female can’t be found guilty of solicitation of statutory rape by urging an adult male to ahve sex with her because she could not be found guilty of the ultimate crime, statutory rape
Crim Law
What happens if the person solicited commits the crime solicited?
Both that person who was solicited and the solicitor can be held liable for that crime
Crim Law
What happens if the person solicited commits acts sufficient to be liable for attempt?
Both parties, the solicitor and solicited, can be held liable for attempt (remember solicitation and attempt can’t both be convicted, so it would be one or the other)