Criminal Acts
Categories of Crime
The Rule of Law
Name This Crime
Features of Crimes
100

Facts which show that a crime has occurred, or "body of the crime."

What is Corpus Delicti?

100

An offense punishable by incarceration, usually in a local jail, for a period prescribed by statute in a given jurisdiction, typically limited to a year or less.

What is Misdemeanor?

100

A person's reason for committing a crime

What is Motive?

100

Name this crime: Homeowners arrive just a person is trying to break into their residence.  The person is startled, drops his tools, and begins to run. 

What is attempted burglary? (an inchoate offense here)

100

An act in violation of the law

What is actus reus? (guilty act)

200

Acts that are regarded, by tradition and convention, as wrong in themselves (moral wrongs)

What is Mala in Se?

200

A criminal offense punishable by death or incarceration in a prison facility for at least a year.

What is a felony?

200

A common law and constitutional prohibition against a second trial for the same offense

What is Double Jeopardy?

200

Name this crime: A woman cashed a check at a liquor store for $100. As she walked away, a man approached her and demanded her handbag. She refused and clutched the handbag tightly in her arms. The man grabbed the handbag, but the woman wouldn’t let go. The man pulled the handbag away from her and knocked her off balance. She fell and hit the ground, and the man ran off with the handbag.

What is Robbery?

200

The basic components of a crime. In a specific crime, the essential features of that crime as specified by law or statute.  For example, the components of murder are: (1) an unlawful killing, (2) of a human being, (3) Intentionally (4) with planning.

What are the elements of a crime?

300

Two or more people agree to commit an illegal act and take some step toward its completion

What is a Conspiracy?

300

A crime that does not require mens rea, so there is liability without fault or intention.

What is a strict liability crime?

300

The criminal law of a certain jurisdiction, such as Virginia

What is the penal code, or Virginia Code?

300

Name this crime: Two friends were playing basketball and got into a heated fight over the score.  John punched Ted in the face and screamed at him: "If you don't shut up about the score, I am going to kill you!" John then went to his car, retrieved a gun, and shot Ted in the back, killing him.

What is voluntary manslaughter?

300

Actions of a crime have to be linked to the intent

What is concurrence?
400

Acts that are considered wrong only because there is a law against them.

What are Mala Prohibitia?

400
An offense that is not yet completed; also, an offense that consists of an act or conduct which is a step toward the intended commission of another offense 

What is Inchoate Offense?

400
Criminal laws are actually crimes against this entity.

What is the State? 

400

Name this crime: Jill and Jane are horse playing with a loaded gun. The gun discharges and ultimately Jill accidentally shoots Jane in the head, killing her. What offense is Jill most likely to be convicted of?

What is Involuntary Manslaughter?

400

Purposeful or intentional, knowing, reckless and negligent

What are the four types of mens rea (guilty mind)?

500
Name this crime: When an individual commits a drive-by shooting of a home when people are present, what serious offense is he likely to be charged with upon being caught?

What is aggravated assault? (or assault with a deadly weapon). *Possibly attempted aggravated assault)

500
A minor violation of state statute or local ordinance punishable by a fine or other penalty or by a specified, usually limited, jail term

What is an Infraction?

500

The type of cause that is required to be demonstrated in court in order to hold an individual criminally liable for causing harm.

What is Legal Cause?

500

Name this crime: While committing an armed robbery at a store, Mark holds up his gun and fires into the ceiling. One of the bullets strikes a bystander, killing him. In addition to the armed robbery, what specific offense did Mark commit?

What is Felony Murder?

500

Laws that are passed "after the fact" meaning that the event occurs first and then is criminalized.

What are Ex Post Facto laws?