1. Criminal Law

2. Felonies v. Misdemeanors
Defined based on degree of seriousness
Felonies: serious crimes
Punishable by death or prison for one year or longer
Must have malice aforethought, premeditation or deliberation in order to have a homicide. If not = manslaughter.
Two types of manslaughter (voluntary and involuntary)
Voluntary – intent to kill but malice is lacking (crimes that are committed in a heat of passion)
Involuntary – offender is negligent in acts, no intent to kill (DUI, fight)

3. Felonies in NC Class A Class F Class H Murder First-degree forgery
Involuntary manslaughter
Class B1
Use of a laser device towards an aircraft
Human trafficking of an adult
Rape
Class G
Class I
Aggravated child molestation
Robbery
Making terroristic threats
Class B2
Intimidating or interfering with witnesses
Larceny of a dog
Conspiracy to commit a Class A or B1 felony
Class C
Aggravated assault
Kidnapping
Class D
Armed robbery
First-degree arson
Class E
Child molestation
Malicious throwing of corrosive acid or alkaline

5. Felonies v. Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors: any crime that is not a felony
Punishable often by fines, community sanctions, probation, less than 1 year in jail
Different classes depending on seriousness
Examples: trespassing, petty theft, shoplifting, disturbing the peace, DUI

6. Mala in se v. Mala prohibita
Another way to look at different types of crime
Mala in se: considered wrong even if there’s not a law that prohibits it
Inherently wrong
Natural and moral law
Ex: murder
Mala prohibita
Considered crime because it has been defined that way, put into statute or law
Varies from place to place (states, countries, localities)
Ex: gambling

7. The Four Elements
There are four major elements which must be proven in order for someone to be charged: Actus Reus (Act) -the guilty act (must be voluntary) -ex1: in a murder, the actus reus is homicide -ex2: if a vehicle is stolen, the actus reus is motor vehicle theft Mens Rea (Intent) -the guilty intent; crime is done with criminal intent - it is difficult to discover and then prove in court. -"Mental element," "mental attitude," state of mind," or "criminal intent.“ -ex1: homicide, the person committing the homicide must understand that it is wrong and is a crime

8. The Four Elements
Causation -consists of the objective determination that the dependent's act triggered a chain of events that ended as the harmful result, such as death in homicide. -consists of the subjective judgment that it's fair and just to blame the defendant for the bad result. Concurrence -there must be a concurrence between a criminal intent and a criminal act that causes a prohibited harm or injury.