Categories of Crimes
General Terms
Elements of a Crime
Defenses
More Terms
100
Criminal act of purposely setting a fire.
What is arson?
100
The person who commits the crime.
What is the principal?
100
This means that a crime was planned in advance.
What is premeditation?
100
Reasonable use of force to protect oneself or family members from bodily harm.
What is self-defense?
100
A person who helps someone else commit a crime
What is an accomplice?
200
Killing that takes place during the commission of another serious crime, like arson, rape, robbery or burglary
What is felony murder?
200
A serious crime punishable by 1 or more years in prison, or death.
What is a felony?
200
"Guilty Mind" - an action has to be intentional or reckless in order to be considered a crime.
What is mens rea?
200
This defense can only be used when the cause of it was administered to the defendant unknowingly.
What is intoxication?
200
Term for operating a vehicle while in an altered state from drugs or alcohol.
What is driving under the influence (DUI)?
300
A killing resulting from behavior so reckless that it creates an extreme likelihood of death or serious injury. NO INTENT.
What is involuntary manslaughter?
300
A piece of evidence or a claim that a person was elsewhere when a crime occurred
What is an alibi?
300
Type of mens rea in which a person fails to meet the reasonable standard of behavior for the circumstances, and as a result, something bad happens.
What is negligence?
300
To use this defense, a defendant must show that were under immediate threat of serious bodily harm, they believed that the threat would be carried out, and they had no reasonable way to get away.
What is duress?
300
Term for a person who helps a criminal avoid capture or punishment after they have committed the crime.
What is accessory after the fact?
400
A killing that is done with malice, but without premeditation.
What is second degree murder?
400
A failure to act when a person had a legal duty to do so.
What is a crime of omission?
400
"Guilty act" In order to be convicted of a crime, you have to have actually done something (or attempted to do something). Your thoughts alone are not a guilty act.
What is actus reas?
400
When the police induce a person to commit a crime that they wouldn't have otherwise committed.
What is entrapment?
400
Found in hair, blood and other bodily fluids, this is a way to eliminate or incriminate a suspect.
What is DNA evidence?
500
The crime of attempting shoplifting.
What is concealment?
500
When two or more people agree to work together to complete an illegal act. The name of this crime.
What is conspiracy (to conspire)?
500
The exception to mens rea. In these cases, it doesn't matter whether the defendant knew what they were doing was a crime - they are still liable
What is strict liability?
500
Explain the three standards that must be met in order for a defendant to use the defense of necessity.
What is 1) didn't intentionally cause the circumstances that led to the illegal act, 2) couldn't accomplish the same goal with a better/legal alternative, 3) chose the lesser evil (least destructive way of achieving the goal)?
500
When a defendant ultimately fails to complete the crime.
What is an attempt or attempted _____________crime? Attempted murder, attempted robbery, etc.
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