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Chapter 3 Criminal Law: Substance and Procedure

Chapter 3 Criminal Law: Substance and Procedure. Learning Objectives. Know the similarities and differences between criminal law and civil law. Understand the concept of substantive criminal law and its history. Discuss the sources of the criminal law.

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Chapter 3 Criminal Law: Substance and Procedure

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  1. Chapter 3Criminal Law: Substance and Procedure

  2. Learning Objectives • Know the similarities and differences between criminal law and civil law. • Understand the concept of substantive criminal law and its history. • Discuss the sources of the criminal law. • Be familiar with the elements of a crime. • Define the term “strict liability.” • Discuss excuses and justification defenses for crime. • Discuss the concept of criminal procedure. • The role of the Bill of Rights in shaping criminal procedure. • Know which Amendments do the Constitution are the most important to the justice system. • List the elements of due process of law.

  3. Rule of Law

  4. Historical Development of Criminal Law • Babylonian Code of Hammurabi (2000 B.C.) • Mosaic Code of the Israelites (1200 B.C.) • Roman Twelve Tables (451 B.C.) • Justinian’s Corpus Juris Civilis • German Wergild • Canon (Church) Law • State centered law

  5. Common Law & the Principle of Stare Decisis • Stare decisis - to stand by decided cases • Mala in se - acts that society considers inherently evil • Mala prohibitum – crimes created by legislative bodies

  6. Sources of the Criminal Law • American legal system is codified by state and federal legislatures • Constantly evolving • Criminal law must conform to the Constitution • No ex post facto laws permitted

  7. Crimes & Classifications

  8. Elements of a crime

  9. Actus Reus • An illegal act • Failure to act when the law requires it • Act must be voluntary • Negligent acts can result in criminal liability

  10. Mens Rea • Guilty mind or intent • Intent is implied if the results of an act are certain to occur • Crimes may require different levels of intent

  11. Mens Rea and Actus Reus • Connection between act (actus reus) and harm done • The illegal act must be the cause of the harm

  12. Strict Liability • Exceptions to mens rea are strict liability crimes - illegal acts that do not require a showing of intent

  13. Criminal Defenses • A person can commit an act that would ordinarily be a crime but they are not held criminally liable • Criminal defenses are a core aspect of common law • Most criminal defenses are based on the mens rea element

  14. Excuse Defenses • Ignorance or Mistake • Insanity • Intoxication • Age

  15. Insanity • Relies on a legal rather than medical definition • Insane persons lack the capacity to form legal intent, or mens rea • Cannot distinguish between right and wrong, or cannot control their conduct

  16. Justification Defenses • Consent • Self-Defense • Stand Your Ground • Entrapment • Duress • Necessity

  17. Reforming the Criminal Law • Law enables and also restricts government authority and power • Changes over time

  18. Creating New Crimes • Physician-Assisted Suicide • Stalking • Community Notification Laws • Environmental Crimes

  19. Creating New Defenses • Neurolegal Defenses

  20. Constitutional Criminal Procedure • Main source of procedural law is the Bill of Rights • Limits on governmental action focus on: • 4th Amendment - searches and seizures • 5th Amendment - self-incrimination, double jeopardy, grand jury • 6th Amendment - speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, right to counsel, notice of charges, and confrontation of witnesses • 8th Amendment - prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment

  21. Due Process of Law • Found in both the 5th and 14th Amendments • Refers to the essential elements of fairness under law • Substantive due process - protects against laws that are unfair • Procedural due process - ensures no one is deprived of life, liberty, or property without proper and legal criminal process

  22. Interpreting the Constitution • How the Supreme Court decides a case depends on: • The facts of the case • The federal and state constitutional and statutory provisions • Previous court decisions • Judicial philosophy • Societal values

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