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The Courts Lecture III. Seven Elements of a Crime. Harm. Punishment. Legality. Concurrence. Actus reus. Causation. Mens rea. Elements of a Crime. Harm Legality Must be legally Forbidden Not ex post facto. The Corpus Delecti. The Body of the Crime. Corpus Delecti. Mens Rea
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Seven Elements of a Crime Harm Punishment Legality Concurrence Actus reus Causation Mens rea
Elements of a Crime • Harm • Legality • Must be legally Forbidden • Not ex post facto
The Corpus Delecti The Body of the Crime
Corpus Delecti • Mens Rea • Actus Reus • The Mens Rea and Actus Reus are related or fused. • Attendant Circumstances • In some cases, results.
Mens Rea • The Criminal Intent • The Mental State Required for a crime.
Actus Reus “The Guilty Act” Without an act, the crime is not consummated. For example, I could intend to poison a person.No crime is committed without carrying it out.
Causation Relationship Between Harm and Actus Reus The Criminal Act must lead to harm without an interruption
Concurrence There has to be a connection between Actus Reus and Mens Rea
Punishment In order for a behavior to be considered a crime, it must be punishable.
Crime • Crime Resulting in Prison Time or Capitol Punishment: • Felony • Crime Resulting in less than a year in Jail or less than $500 in fines, or both: • Misdemeanor • Wobblers • Can result in felony or Misdemeanor Prosecution • Infractions: Cannot result in Physical Arrest • No bail, no Public Defender, no trial by jury
California Penal Code 15 • An act committed or omitted in violation of law for which there is a punishment: • Death • Imprisonment • Fine • Removal from Office • Disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit in this state.
ACT • ACT forbidden by law • Failure to Act • Failure to support • Failure to Stop • Failure to Aid • Passive Participation • Also a Crime • Sodomy or oral copulation
Chante Mallard • Killed Jeffery Biggs by hitting him with her car and leaving him embedded in her windshield. Mallard then pulled into her garage and closed the door.
Mala in se / Mala Prohibita • Mala in se crimes are “wrong in themselves” • Recognized Anywhere as a Crime • Murder and rape are mala in se • Mala Prohibita • Illegal Acts because the laws say they are • Trespassing, gambling, prostitution, some offenses against the State
Parties to Crimes • Principles • Directly commit the act or aid and abet in it • Accessories • A person, after a FELONY has been committed, conceals, aids the principal with the intent of helping to escape, avoid arrest, trial or conviction • Accomplice • Co-principal who testifies against another involved in the same crime