Parties to Crime
Persons who actually commit the crime.
Who are principals in the 1st degree?
People who participate after crimes are committed and are guilty of a lessor offenses, most of the time a misdemeanor.
Who are accessories?
Incomplete crimes that satisfy the mens rea or specific intent and actus reus of taking some steps towards accomplishing the criminal purpose, but not enough steps to complete the intended crime.
What are inchoate crimes?
Concept when person voluntarily and completely renounces criminal purpose.
What is abandonment?
Willful and premeditated murder and is the only crime punishable by death or life without parole in non-death penalty states
What is 1st degree murder?
Persons present when crime is committed and who help commit it (ex. lookouts and getaway drivers).
Who are principals in the 2nd degree?
Concept that a person is criminally liable for someone else’s conduct because of a relationship (ex. business or employer/employee relationship or parent/child).
What is vicarious liability?
Trying but failing to complete crime.
What is attempt to commit a crime?
1.2% of all violent felonies
What are homicides?
Murders that are not premeditated, but intended to inflict serious bodily injury.
What are 2nd degree murders?
Persons not present when crime is committed but who help before the crime is committed (ex. provide weapon in murder)
Who are accessories before the fact?
When person does something deliberately with the intent that matches bad result.
What is purposely?
Trying to get someone else to commit a crime requiring inducement to commit crime, not just mere words. Words must convey that their purpose is to get someone to commit a specific crime.
What is solicitation?
A gentle or easy death; literally means “good death.” Can be passive – failing to take extraordinary measures to keep someone alive. Can be active – deliberate acts to cause death.
What is euthanasia?
Killing someone in heat of the moment with adequate provocation
What is voluntary manslaughter?
Persons who help after crime is committed (ex. harboring fugitive).
Who are accessories after the fact?
When a person does something and is aware bad result will happen (receiving stolen property or giving a gun to someone aware person will use to shoot someone).
What is knowingly?
Person intends to commit crime and does everything (s)he can to complete it, but the law doesn’t ban what (s)he did.
What is legal impossibility?
Unintentional but extremely reckless murders.
What are depraved heart murders?
Unintentionally killing someone.
What is involuntary manslaughter?
People who participate both before and during the commission of crimes by aiding, abetting, assisting, counseling, procuring, hiring, inducing, encouraging, and inciting. By their participation, they are guilty of the crime itself.
Who are accomplices?
An agreement to commit a crime. This agreement to commit a crime is a separate crime itself.
What is conspiracy?
Person intends to commit crime, but because of some circumstance cannot complete crime.
What is factual impossibility?
Unintentional death during commission of some felonies.
What is felony murder?
Concept that gives a reason for killing in anger that would be recognized by a reasonable person in same circumstances and has to be recognized by the law of that state.
What is adequate provocation?