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Criminal Offenses: Understanding Crime vs. Civil Offenses

Learn the difference between a crime, which is a punishable offense against society, and a civil offense, which is an offense against the victim. Discover the elements of a crime, criminal intent, and various types of criminal conduct. Explore common offenses such as embezzlement, theft, bribery, and more. Understand your rights when arrested and the importance of criminal procedure. Gain insights into defenses against criminal charges.

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Criminal Offenses: Understanding Crime vs. Civil Offenses

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  1. Chapter 5 Criminal Law

  2. Crime vs. Civil Offense • Crime = A punishable offense against society. • Civil Offense = Offenses against just the victim, not society. • Crimes are defined by statute (laws enacted by state or federal legislation).

  3. Elements of a Crime • 1. Duty—statutes prohibit certain conduct. To establish duty in a trial, the prosecutor cites a statute to the judge. • 2. Breach of duty—violation of duty is the criminal act. Could be proved in trial by a witness. • 3. Criminal intent—intended to commit the act and intended to do evil.

  4. Embezzlement • Taking another’s property or money by a person to whom it has been entrusted.

  5. Criminal Intent for Corporations • 1- A corporation can have criminal intent. • 2- Corporate officers will be held criminally liable under the doctrine of VICARIOUS CRIMINAL LIABLILITY for crimes of corporate employees

  6. Criminal Intent vs. Age • Under 7 = Below the age of reason and no criminal intent. • 7-14 must prove they know the consequences of their actions. • Over 14 = usually accountable as adults • Generally what is a crime for an adult is juvenile delinquency for a minor.

  7. Criminal Intent • To have criminal intent you must have sufficient mental capacity to know the difference between right and wrong. • Voluntary intoxication does not take away criminal responsibility. • Some crimes do not require the element of criminal intent. • Traffic Offenses • Vehicular homicide can be charged for actions involving extreme carelessness.

  8. Criminal Conduct • See Graph on page #68

  9. Felony • A crime punishable by confinement for more than 1 year in a state prison or by a fine of more than $1,000 or both. • Murder, Burglary, Arson, Rape • Perjury • lie under oath.

  10. Misdemeanor • A less serious crime. • Usually punishable by confinement in a county or city jail for less than 1 year. • Speeding, disorderly conduct

  11. Infractions • Low level crimes – Lesser misdemeanors. • No jail, only fine • Examples: Littering, parking violation

  12. White-Collar Crimes • Offenses committed in the business world. • Do not involve force or violence and do not cause physical damage to property.Examples: embezzling, tax evasion, Martha Stewart

  13. Antitrust Laws • State that competing companies may not cooperate in fixing prices or in dividing sales regions. • Require that business firms compete with each other.

  14. Larceny • Another word for Theft • Types include: • Robbery = Taking of property from another against the victims will by force or causing fear. • Burglary = Entering a building without permission when intending to commit a crime. • Both are always felonies. • Sometimes larceny is a misdemeanor (shoplifting)

  15. Receiving Stolen Property • Someone who receives stolen property is known as a “Fence” • If you know it was stolen you are guilty of a crime.

  16. False Pretenses • One who obtains money or other property by lying about a past or existing fact. • This is a type of fraud. • How does this differ from larceny? • Victim parts with property voluntarily.

  17. Forgery • Falsely making or materially altering a writing to defraud another • Usually involves check writing. • Usually a felony.

  18. Bribery • Unlawfully offering or giving anything of value to influence performance of an official. • Also prohibited in foreign countries by U.S. companies. • Pro gambler pays athlete to lose game intentionally.

  19. Computer Crime • Since larceny involves “Taking” and often computer crime is just “Copying” many states have created new computer laws.

  20. Extortion • Commonly known as “Blackmail” • Obtaining money or other property from a person by wrongful use of force, fear, or the power of office.

  21. Conspiracy • An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime. • Can include fixing prices etc.

  22. Arson • Willful and illegal burning of a building.

  23. Assignment: • Think About Legal Concepts 1-5 • Think Critically 6-8 • All on page 70

  24. Criminal ProcedureLesson 5-2 The authors of the Constitution believed it was better for our society to give individuals too much liberty than to allow the government too much power.

  25. Rights when Arrested • Criminal defendant may not be forced to testify against themselves. • Right to cross-examine witnesses. • Right to be represented by a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer the state will provide one.

  26. To be found guilty of a crime • Defendants have a right to trial by a jury. • In a jury trial all the jurors must vote to convict. • Must establish guilt with proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

  27. Responsibility for the Criminal Conduct of Others • Accomplice--A person who aids another in the commission of a crime is also guilty of criminal wrongdoing. • Also, Corporations can be guilty of vicarious liability.

  28. Defenses To Criminal Charges • The state must prove the defendant’s guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. • Often allows the defendant to escape liability

  29. Procedural Problems with the way evidence is obtained or the way the accused person is arrested, questioned, etc. Substantive Disprove, justify, or excuse the alleged crime. Defenses To Criminal Charges (2 Types) Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

  30. Substantive Defenses • Self-Defense - The use of force that appears to be reasonably necessary to the victim to prevent death, serious bodily harm, rape, or kidnapping. • Criminal Insanity - When the accused does not know the difference between right and wrong. (Cannot have criminal intent)

  31. Substantive Defenses • Immunity - Freedom from prosecution even when one has committed the crime. • Contempt of Court – an action that interferes with the administration of justice.Someone who refuses to testify after a grant of immunity, or without a legal basis for the refusal, is in contempt of court.

  32. Punishment in Criminal Cases • The purpose of the punishment is not remedy the wrong but rather to discipline the wrongdoer. • Should also act as a deterrent to others.

  33. Plea Bargaining • Pleasing guilty to a less serious crime in exchange for having a more serious charge dropped. • Give up the right to a public trial. (Because you are pleading guilty)

  34. Discuss Lesson 5-1 Practice Activity question #2 • Appeals court opinion: http://www.kentlaw.edu/faculty/rstaudt/classes/oldclasses/internetlaw/casebook/briggs.html • Should Terry Briggs, the computer programmer, who refused to reveal passwords be convicted of a crime?

  35. Assignment • Think About Legal Concepts 1-5 pg 73 • Vocab 1-12 pg 74

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