Crimes Flashcards
(552 cards)
What are the four elements of a crime?
- Actus reus
- Mens rea
- Concurrence
- Causation
Define actus reus
A voluntary physical act or failure to act where there is a legal duty to act
An actus reus can be either a _________ or __________.
Commission
Omission
Define commission
Voluntary physical act
When is a physical act voluntary?
Bodily movement was the product of the actor’s own volition
Give some examples of nonvoluntary acts.
- Act not the product of actor’s will
- Reflex/convulsion
- Bodily movement during unconsciousness or sleep
When is possession a voluntary act?
If D was aware of her control of the contraband long enough to have been able to terminate possession
Legal duties to act can be created by:
- Statute
- Contract
- Relationship between parties
- Voluntary assumption of care
- Creation of peril
What liability does a good Samaritan take on by volunteering to help?
Obligation to act with a reasonable standard of care
What is the mens rea requirement for a crime?
D must have had a guilty state of mind at the time of the act
What is specific intent in connection to mens rea?
- Intent to preform AND
- Specific intent to cause some further objective
What defenses are only available for specific intent crimes?
- Diminished capacity
- Unreasonable mistake of fact
Describe the diminished capacity defense.
An impaired mental condition - short of insanity - caused by intoxication, trauma, or disease that prevents a person from having the mental state necessary to be held responsible for a crime
Mistake of fact does not have to be _________ to be a valid defense to specific intent crimes
Reasonable
What is the specific intent required for first-degree murder?
Premeditation
The defense of diminished capacity or unreasonable mistake of fact will reduce first-degree murder to _________.
Second-degree murder
Assault is a specific intent crime only if ___________.
Assault is defined as an attempted battery
What is the specific intent required for burglary?
Intent to commit a felony inside the victim’s dwelling
What is the specific intent required for robbery?
Intent to permanently deprive victim of her property
Describe conditional intent as it relates to robbery.
Defendant cannot negate proscribed intent by requiring the victim to comply with a condition the defendant has no right to impose (e.g. i will hurt you unless you give me your wallet)
What specific intent is required for larceny?
Intent to permanently deprive victim of her property
What specific intent is required for embezzlement?
Intent to defraud
What specific intent is required for false pretenses?
Intent to defraud
What specific intent is required for forgery?
Intent to defraud