Criminal Act
This crime involves unlawfully entering a building with the intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault once inside.
Burglary
This legal term refers to the guilty state of mind required to hold someone criminally responsible.
Mens Rea
This type of causation asks whether the harm would have occurred “but for” the defendant’s actions.
Actual Cause
Often distinguished as simple or aggravated, this offense is the unlawful physical attack or threat of attack on another person.
assault
This crime involves taking someone else’s property with the intent to permanently deprive them of it, without using force
theft (larceny)
In criminal law, this act is defined as the intentional and unlawful killing of another person.
Homicide
When a person should have been aware of a significant risk but failed to do so, this level of intent applies.
Criminal Negligence
Also known as legal cause, this concept limits liability to consequences that are reasonably foreseeable.
Proximate Cause
This crime occurs when someone confines or restrains another person against their will.
False Imprisonment
This offense occurs when someone intentionally damages or destroys another person’s property
Vandalism
This white-collar crime occurs when someone intentionally deceives others for financial or personal gain.
Fraud
This doctrine allows intent to be transferred when harm is caused to an unintended victim instead of the intended one.
Transferred Intent
In homicide cases, this rule allows liability even if the victim dies from medical complications, as long as the defendant’s act set the events in motion.
the year-and-a-day rule
This offense involves compelling someone to engage in sexual activity without consent
Rape
This crime occurs when someone takes property that is entrusted to them but intends to convert it for personal use.
embezzlement
The taking of another person’s property through force or threat of force is known as this crime.
Robbery
Under common law, this doctrine holds individuals criminally liable for unintended crimes that occur during the commission of a dangerous felony.
The felony murder rule
This principle states that if multiple causes combine to produce a harm, each cause that is a substantial factor can result in liability
concurrent causation
This crime involves taking another person’s life unlawfully but without premeditation or malice aforethought.
Manslaughter
When a person illegally enters a structure but does not intend to commit a felony inside, the act is generally charged as this.
Criminal trespass
This crime involves setting fire to property intentionally and unlawfully.
Arson
This concept describes when a person forms the intent to commit a crime and takes a substantial step toward carrying it out, even if the crime is never completed.
Attempt
This type of causation considers whether the defendant’s act directly led to the harmful result without any significant interruption.
Direct Causation
This offense involves using fear of immediate harm to force a person to act against their will.
coercion
This crime involves taking property by pretending to have a right to it, such as posing as a contractor to gain access to a home
False Pretenses