MBE and NY Distinctions (Crim Law) Flashcards
(67 cards)
Kidnapping in NY
What are the elements of
1st degree kidnapping?
2nd degree kidnapping?
1st Degree Kidnapping:
Abduction PLUS
Ransom
Restrained victim with intent to inflict physical injury, OR
V dies.
à All other kidnapping is 2nd degree;
à All kidnapping is an enumerated felony
for felony murder.
Burglary in NY
What are the elements of
1st degree burglary?
2nd degree burglary?
3rd degree burglary?
3rd Degree Burglary
B or E or remaining behind inside
ANY structure
ANY time of day or night
With intent to commit ANY crime inside
2nd Degree (3rd degree PLUS ANY of the following):
Structure = Dwelling
Injury to non-criminal, OR
Burglars are armed.
1st Degree
Dwelling AND
Injury to non-criminal, OR
Burglars are Armed
Robbery in NY
What are the elements of
1st degree robbery?
2nd degree robbery?
3rd degree robbery?
3rd Degree Robbery: Forcibly Stealing Property
NO physical Injury and NO firearms
2nd Degree Robbery
3rd Degree + ANY of the following
Aided by Another
Cause Physical Injury (NOT Serious)
Display a Firearm
1st Degree Robbery
Armed with a Deadly Weapon OR
Cause Serious Physical Injury
Homicide:
First Degree Manslaughter
What are the elements of
1st degree manslaughter?
1st Degree Manslaughter (NY):
Kill w/ intent to do bodily harm, or Voluntary manslaughter/provoked Killing (passion); Unjust abortion (BUT very difficult to define)
Homicide: Negligent Homicide
What are the elements of
negligent homicide?
Negligent Homicide (NY): killing resulting from criminal negligence.
Homicide:
Second Degree Murder
What are the elements of
2nd degree murder?
All murder in NY that is NOT 1st degree murder is 2nd degree murder.
3 Kinds of 2nd Degree Murder in NY:
Intent to Kill w/o Special Circumstances
Highly Reckless Murder (speeding)
Felony Murder
Homicide:
Second Degree Manslaughter
What are the elements of
2nd degree manslaughter?
2nd Degree Manslaughter (NY):
killing resulting from recklessness
(NOT highly reckless)
Defenses: Self Defense
What are the 3 exceptions
to the duty to retreat?
3 Exceptions to NYS Duty to
Retreat as Prerequisite for
Use of Deadly Force in Self Defense
Not Out of Home
Not if V of Rape or Robbery
PD has No Duty
Homicide: First Degree Murder
What are the elements of
1st degree murder in NY?
1st Degree Murder in NY (very narrow)
Intentional Killing + Special Circumstance
Special Circumstances Include
Intended V was PD, court or parole officer;
V was killed b/c judge
Witness/family; influence testimony;
Δ committed murder for hire
V intentionally killed as part of burglary, robbery, rape, kidnapping, arson, escape, or 2nd degree murder;
Torture
> 1 person as part of the same criminal plan.
Serial Murder
Defenses: Self-Defense
What is the rule on V’s
use of deadly force
in self-defense?
NYS Requires Retreat for Deadly Force
(Minority Rule)
V may use deadly force if V reasonably believes that deadly force will imminently be used on them, AND
V has retreated to wall, if safe to do so.
No duty to retreat: (1) home; (2) V of rape or robbery, (3) PD
Defenses: Duress
In NY, for what crimes is duress a defense?
In NY duress is an affirmative defense
to ALL crimes (Δ must raise/prove
by a preponderance of the evidence)
Conspiracy
4 NY Distinctions from MBE
4 Important NY Conspiracy Distinctions
Overt Act State: (i) liability, & (ii) overt act.
Unilateral Theory: you can conspire w/ PD
Withdrawal (Δ can withdraw; Must):
Renounce conspiracy
Prevent commission of crime.
Not liable for other conspirators’ subsequent crimes
NY Defenses
Defenses &
Affirmative Defenses
Affirmative Defense: Δ must raise and prove by a preponderance of the evidence.
E.g. Insanity, Duress, Entrapment
Defense: once Δ raises, prosecution must disprove beyond a reasonable doubt
E.g. Infancy, Self-Defense
NY Accomplice Liability
In NY, accomplices:
Cannot benefit from Principal’s defense going to mental state (e.g. insanity).
Are not absolved from liability even if Principal is acquitted, immune, or not prosecuted.
BUT, Δ cannot be convicted SOLELY on the uncorroborated testimony of accomplice.
Defenses: Insanity
Standard for Insanity
Defense in NY
NYS insanity rule is more lenient than M’Naughten, but less than MPC.
At the time of conduct, as a result of mental disease or defect, Δ lacked capacity to know or appreciate either:
(1) nature & consequence of such conduct, or (2) that such conduct was wrong.
Affirmative Defense: Δ must raise and prove by a preponderance of the evidence
Homicide
Approach to
Determining Which Homicide Crime To Apply
Did killing occur during the commission of a crime?
If yes, was crime an enumerated dangerous felony? If yes, apply felony murder, if no, apply misdemeanor murder. If no, did Δ intend to kill/inflict serious bodily harm/reckless disregard for life? If no, did Δ act w/criminal negligence? If yes, then crim. neg. hom. or invol. manslaughter. If yes (Δ did intend to kill/inflict S.B.I., or reckless disregard, was there adequate provocation? If yes, vol. mansl. If no, apply murder rules. If intent to kill + specific circumstance (either enumerated or for NY listed), 1st degree murder.
Duty to Act Homicide: omission resulting in death:
C-R-A-P-S: Contract (lifeguard); Relationship (parent); Assumption of duty; Peril (created by D); Statute (health care worker)
Criminally Negligent Homicide: knowledge that conduct creates unreasonable risk of SBI/death
Homicide: Felony Murder
What is NY’s additional defense to felony murder?
NY’s Additional Defense to Felony Murder
Δ did NOT commit or aid in commission of homicidal act
Δ was NOT armed with a deadly weapon
Δ did NOT reasonably believe that co-felons were armed with a deadly weapon.
Δ did NOT reasonably believe that any other participant intended to engage in conduct likely to result in death/serious physical injury.
Defenses: Insanity
Summary of 4 Insanity Rule
Summary of Insanity Rule
M’Naghten: Δ does not know right from wrong.
Irresistible Impulse: impulse that Δ cannot resist
Durham, but for mental illness, Δ would not have done the act.
MPC: combination of M’Naughten and the irresistible impulse rule: (a) appreciate criminality (right from wrong), and (b) resist impulse and conform conduct to law.
C/L Crimes: Property Crimes
Summary Chart of
Elements of Various
Property Crimes

C/L Property Crimes:
Burglary
On the MBE, what are the elements of burglary?
Elements of Burglary:
Breaking
Some force (e.g. even pushing interior door, BUT NOT wide open window) Constructive: maid using key at 3 am
Entering
Dwelling House of Another
Not a Barn
At Night
With Intention of Committing a Felony Inside
Intention must exist at time of B&E
E.g. if you break in for no reason, then once inside decide to commit a felony, that is NOT C/L burglary.
C/L Property Crimes
What are the elements of common law arson?
C/L Arson has 3 Elements
Malicious Burning
requires a material wasting of the fiber of the building;
e.g. burning carpet does NOT count
Of the Dwelling House
NOT a barn or store,
Of another.
C/L Property Crimes:
Extortion
What are the differences between robbery
and extortion?
2 Differences Between Robbery & Extortion
Don’t have to take from V’s presence.
Future harm, or threat of future harm.
Mental States
Chart of Requisite Intent
for Major Crimes

C/L Property Crimes:
Embezzlement
What is embezzlement?
Embezzler always has lawful possession of property, followed by an unlawful conversion.
Does NOT require any carrying away.
Embezzler does NOT have to personally benefit.