This latin phrase means “guilty act” and refers to the act necessary in the commission of a crime.
Actus Reus
This type of crime does not have a mens rea requirement, merely showing that the defendant has the actus reus is enough.
Strict Liability
This crime is when a defendant causes the death of another usually coupled with some sort of intent.
Murder/Homicide
There is no such thing as this crime. This word refers to what a person is in relation to the main crime. Commonly referred to as "accessory" or “aiding and abetting”.
Accomplice
What does the A stand for in the acronym IRAC.
AaaAanNNnaAAlLLyyYSsIiisS
This latin phrase means “guilty mind” and refers to the mental state necessary in the commission of a crime.
Mens Rea
This level of mens rea in the model penal code refers to when a defendant intended for a specific outcome to occur.
Purpose
This crime is when a defendant commits the crime of theft accompanied by violence or the threat of violence.
Robbery
This is a separate hearing that happens after the conviction of a defendant to determine the appropriate punishment.
Sentencing
This kind of evidence does not show that the defendant committed the crime directly but can add to proving they were probably the one who did.
Circumstantial Evidence
This refers to an element that shows that the act caused the crime or harm. This is usually not necessary for most criminal statutes.
Causation
This level of mens rea in the model penal code refers to when a defendant should have known that something would occur. Similar to torts but must be gross.
Negligence
This crime is when a defendant breaks and enters into a person’s home or vehicle with the intent to commit a felony.
Burglary
This is an affirmative defense that a defendant can argue. It basically says the defendant did not realize or know what they were doing at the moment of the crime.
Insanity
This phrase refers to when a defendant does not know or misunderstands what a statute means or how it applies.
Mistake of Law
This is the burden of proof that the prosecution must meet for each and every element in a criminal trial.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
This level of mens rea in the model penal code refers to when a defendant knew that the outcome was going to occur as a result of the act.
Knowledge
This crime is when a defendant requests or enlists someone else to commit a crime on their behalf.
Solicitation
This can be either involuntary or voluntary, This affirmative defense refers to a defendant being under the influence to the point where they could not control what they were doing.
Intoxication
This word refers to one of the necessary elements in proving first degree murder. It states that the person reflected on their action no matter how short the time.
Premeditation
This term or phrase refers to when a jury has not and cannot reach a unanimous verdict. Even one juror can make this happen.
Hung Jury
This level of mens rea in the model penal code refers to when a defendant knows that there is a substantial risk of the outcome occurring.
Recklessness
This crime is when a defendant takes steps towards committing the crime but does not complete the crime, usually because they are stopped short of committing the crime.
Attempt
This term refers to when a defendant commits a separate crime on the way to committing their originally intended crime.
Inchoate
DAILY DOUBLE
This is a crime that involves two or more individuals that intend and planned to commit a crime regardless of which one actually executed the crime.
Conspiracy