1. Introduction to Criminal Law

2. Criminal Law Act – crime committed
Guilty state of mind: prohibited act done intentionally, knowingly, or willfully. This is otherwise known as INTENT.
MOTIVE – reason for committing a crime

3. Three Elements of Crime

4. There’s Always Exceptions
Strict liability offenses – do not require a guilty state of mind
Intent not needed
Sale of alcohol/tobacco to minors

5. Sample Case
Someone breaks into your house when you are not home and takes your TV, Computer, and all your DVD’s…..
Can the person be charged with robbery?

6. Sample Case NOPE! The elements of robbery are:
Taking goods/money
Taking from someone else
Use of force or intimidation
Could be convicted of burglary

7. State and Federal Crimes
Laws exist at both levels
STATE
FEDERAL
Simple assault, disorderly conduct, drunk driving, shoplifting
Crimes occurring on federal property, tax fraud, mail fraud, espionage, international smuggling, terrorism

8. Classes of Crimes Felony – imprisonable by more than one year
Misdemeanor – imprisonable by less than one year
Minor traffic violations (parking tickets, some speeding tickets) are not considered crimes = moving violations.

9. B. Parties to Crimes
Principal-The person who commits the crime (Pulls the trigger)
Accomplice-Someone who helps commit the crime (Drives the getaway car)

10. Accessories
Accessory before or after the fact helps with the crime but does not actually take part
Accessory before the fact: Orders the crime, and can also be charged w/the crime (mob hit)
Accessory after the fact: Helps the principal/accomplice hide/escape

11. Crimes of Omission
Crime of omission – when you fail to perform an act required by criminal law.
Not filing tax returns
Not stopping after accident (hit and run)
Other examples?

12. C. Preliminary Crimes
Solicitation- Ask someone to commit a crime for you (hiring a hit man)
Attempt-performs all the elements but fails to carry out the act (caught in the process)
Conspiracy- Two or more people agree to commit a crime (terrorism)
Overt Act (act open to view) – required for a conviction on a conspiracy charge

13. Frontline: Locked up in America