Law

3 sources of Law:
Common Law
o Oldest law, 1200- 1950
Model Penal Code
o Made in 1962 by judges, lawyes and law !o"essos to bing a #o$een#e in t$e
law%
&tate 'e"omation o" Law
o (a#$ state )nows t$e CL and MPC and t$e legislatue de#ides w$at to use%
o &ome states use most o" t$e MPC *+,- and ot$es e"le#t moe o" t$e CL *M.-%
Cime
Crime:
.t is a !ubli# wong, !o$ibited by law and #an be !unis$able
Formula for a Crime:
Mens ea *guilty mind/$eat- 0 1#tus eus *guilty a#tion-2 Cime
Elements of a Crime:
1) Mens Rea:
3uilty mind: .ntent, )nowledge, e#)lessness
o Example: Man wants to ob a ban), anot$e guy $ands $im a gun and says it4s a
geat idea% 5$ey ae bot$ #ul!able be#ause t$ey bot$ $a6e mens ea to ob t$e
ban)% 1lt$oug$ t$ey $a6e di""eent a#tus eus, t$ey bot$ $a6e all elements o" a
#ime%
o Circumstantial Evidence is used to !o6e mens ea% .t is e6iden#e t$at allows a
easonable !eson to in"e w$at $a!!ened based u!on t$e "a#ts% 7se t$e e6ents
and #i#umstan#es be"oe and a"te t$e #ime%
2) Actus Reus:
3uilty 1#t *in mude, a#tual !ulling o" t$e tigge-
o Loo) to t$e #ondu#t, #i#umstan#e, and esult
o Example: aised t$e gun, aimed it at someone, t$e esult is t$at someone died
3) Causation:
a#tion *a#tus eus- and t$oug$ts *mens ea- $a6e to #ause $am
o 7se t$e "a#ts to analy8e w$at #aused t$e $am
4) Harm:
w$ate6e $a!!ened in t$e #ime
o Example: in a $omi#ide, t$e $am would be t$e dead body%
Punis$ment
Punisment:
5$e #onse9uen#e o" being #on6i#ted o" a #ime%
5$e !o!otionality o" t$e #ime must "it t$e !unis$ment, t$ee"oe t$e #ime $as to "it t$e
!unis$ment%
o 5$e deat$ !enalty is not !o!otioned to someone a!ing anot$e, be#ause t$ey
did not )ill t$em%
5$us, a !eson #an legitimately be !unis$ed only i" $e #ommitted a #ime, only in
!o!otion to t$at #ime, and only i" doing so would !odu#e a wold wit$ less #ime%
A!!roaces for te "ustification of a Crime:
Retri#utive: 1##oding to etibuti6ism, a #iminal is t$oug$ to $a6e a debt to !ay to
so#iety, w$i#$ is !aid by !unis$ment% 5$e !unis$ment is also sometimes said to be
so#iety4s a#t o" !aying ba#) t$e #iminal "o t$e wong done%
o .n#a!a#itate : 'etibution
$tilitarian: 5$e legal t$eoy t$at a !eson s$ould be !unis$ed on i" it is "o t$e good o"
so#iety- t$at is, only i" t$e !unis$ment would "ut$e t$e !e6ention o" "utue $am"ul
#ondu#t% 5$in) about w$at is best "o so#iety%
o ;eteen#e : 'e$abilitation
Reasons for !unisment:
Retri#ution- on be$al" o" t$e 6i#tim towads t$e #iminal
%eterrence- to !e6ent t$at o""ende "om e-o""ending and to dete t$e geneal !ubli#
o Example: s!eeding ti#)ets, always slow down w$en we see a #o!
o <." a "a#t !atten #omes u! saying so#iety does not want t$is to $a!!en again,
ma)e sue you tal) about deteen#e%
&nca!acitate- !ote#t t$em "om so#iety and ma)e sue t$ey #an4t $ut anyone else
Rea#ilitation- ma)e t$e #iminal bette
o Oiginated wit$ t$e =ua)es% 5$ey !ioneeed t$e solidaity #on"inement ule,
be#ause t$ey belie6ed it would ma)e t$e #iminals bette%
Ciminal >omi#ide
Criminal Homicide:
5$e unlaw"ul )illing o" a $uman being by anot$e $uman being%
5wo ty!es: mude and manslaug$te
.ntentional ?illings
Mude
Common Law
Murder:
5$e unlaw"ul )illing o" anot$e $uman being wit$ mali#e a"oet$oug$t%
Malice Aforetou't: ." you $a6e one o" t$ese mens ea, you $a6e mali#e and t$ee"oe t$e
#ime is mude%
&m!lied Malice: !esent w$en no #onsideable !o6o#ation a!!eas, o w$en t$e #i#umstan#es
attending t$e )illing s$ow an abandoned and malignant $eat%
E(!ressed Malice: 5$ee mani"ested a delibeate intention unlaw"ully to ta)e away t$e li"e o" a
"ellow #eatue *intent to )ill, but not in#luded in 1
st
degee mude-%
&ntent to )ill *(@!essed Mali#e-
o 1waeness t$at t$e deat$ o" anot$e would esult "om one4s a#tion%
&ntent to Cause *reat +odil, Harm -*+H) *(@!essed Mali#e-
o ?nowledge t$at #ondu#t would #ause seious bodily injuy%
o Example: >it someone in t$e )nees and t$ey end u! dying, you mens ea is
intent to #ause geat bodily $am%
%e!raved Heart *.m!lied Mali#e-
o 1n abandoned and malignant $eat% 1#ting wit$ e@teme e#)lessness%
o Example: 3oing 50 o6e t$e s!eed limit, di6ing dun), bad weat$e in a s#$ool
8one and $it a #$ild%
Felon, Murder
o Committed duing t$e #ommission o" a "elony%
o Example: 'obbing a ban) and s$oots someone, liable "o t$e deat$ and so is t$e
!eson di6ing t$e getaway #a%
Pennsyl6ania Legislation o" 1A9B
Murder.
;i""eentiated between 1
st
degee and 2
nd
degee mude
First %e'ree Murder:
?illing by !oisons, lying in wait *$iding-, wil"ul, !emeditated and delibeate *all o"
t$ese s$ow intent to )ill- o "elony mude%
/econd %e'ree Murder:
(6eyt$ing else t$at is not 1
st
degee
.n#ludes de!a6ed $eat )illings and 3C> )illings%
%efinitions of 0ilful1 Premeditated1 and %eli#erate:
0ilful:
o 5$e want/meant to do it
Premeditated:
o 5$oug$t about be"oe$and
o Can $a!!en in t$e s!lit o" a se#ond, does not need to be a long time%
%eli#erate:
o Measue and e6aluate t$e majo "a#ets o" a #$oi#e o !oblem
o Deig$ing t$e !os and #ons
Example: Eat$e is deat$ly ill% &on goes into t$e $os!ital and s$oots $is "at$e, saying $e
wanted to !ut $im out o" $is misey and su""eing%
o Dil"ul: &aid $e wanted to !ut $is dad out o" $is misey%
o Pemeditated: Coug$t t$e gun to t$e $os!ital%
o ;elibeate: Co#)ed t$e gun ea#$ time%
5o !o6e !emeditated and delibeate, loo) at #i#umstantial e6iden#e *e6ents be"oe and
a"te t$e #ime-%
o Cate'ories of Circumstantial Evidence:
Plannin' activit,: ;4s a#tions be"oe and a"te t$e )illing *statements and
a#tions-
Motive: 5$eats be"oe o a"te t$e )illing, ill-will between t$e !aties
Manner of )illin': Let$al blows a"te t$e 6i#tim was "elled, butal
manne o" )illing
Model Penal Code
Murder: B 5y!es
Pur!osel,: .ntentionally awae/desie a esult will $a!!en and a #ons#ious a#t will o##u
)nowin'l,: ?nows esult will $a!!en/!a#ti#ally #etain and awae o" $ig$ !obability
o" mude%
Rec2lessl,: ;id ; "oesee $amF Cons#iously disegads a substantial and unjusti"iable
is) mani"esting e@teme indi""een#e to t$e 6alue o" $uman li"e%
o Example: loaded gun in #owd and s$ooting in t$e ai% *;>-%
Felon, Murder
B ty!es o" Mens Rea:
Pur!osel,: .ntentionally awae/desie a esult will $a!!en and a #ons#ious a#t will o##u
)nowin'l,: ?nows esult will $a!!en/!a#ti#ally #etain and awae o" $ig$ !obability
o" mude%
o Example: Dea!ons e@!et t$at doesn4t li)e $is wi"e anymoe% >e !uts a bomb on
t$e !lane t$at s$e is on% >e doesn4t want e6eyone to die on t$e !lane, just $is
wi"e% 5$e mens ea "o t$e wi"e is !u!osely be#ause $e wants/desies t$e )illing
and t$e mens ea "o t$e ot$e !eo!le in t$e !lane is )nowingly, be#ause $e just
)nows t$ey will die, but $e didn4t want t$em to die%
Rec2lessl,: ;id ; "oesee $amF Cons#iously disegads a substantial and unjusti"iable
is)%
3e'li'entl,: 'is)y be$a6iou and a "ailue to be awae o" t$e #onse9uen#es% *.n6oluntay
manslaug$te-
Goluntay Manslaug$te
Manslau'ter:
5$e unlaw"ul )illing o" a $uman being wit$out mali#e%
4oluntar, Manslau'ter:
1n intentional )illing in t$e $eat o" !assion wit$ ade9uate !o6o#ation%
>eat o" !assion and ade9uate !o6o#ation ae tested unde an OCH(C5.G( &51+;1';%
5$ee must $a6e been a #ausal #onne#tion between t$e !o6o#ation, t$e !assion, and t$e
"atal a#t%
Heat of Passion:
?illing "ollowed t$e !o6o#ation be"oe t$ee $as been a easonable o!!otunity "o t$e
!assion to #ool%
5est "o t$e >eat o" Passion: Obje#ti6e
o Dould t$e easonable !eson lose #ontolF
o Das t$ee easonable o!!otunity to #ool o""F
Ade5uate Provocation: Cause someone to a#t in !assion and not eason% DO';& 1'( +O5
(+O73>II
e@teme assault o battey u!on t$e ; and mutual #ombat
deat$ esulting "om esistan#e o" an illegal aest
injuy o seious abuse o" a #lose elati6e o" ;
t$e sudden dis#o6ey o" a s!ouse4s adultey
7nintentional ?illings
$nintentional )illin's:
7njusti"ied is) ta)ing
5wo ?inds: ;e!a6ed >eat Mude and .n6oluntay Manslaug$te
5$e di""een#e between t$e two is t$e degee o" e#)lessness
;e!a6ed >eat
%e!raved Heart Murder:
1#ts o" a li"e endangeing natue so e#)less t$at t$ey mani"est a wanton indi""een#e to
$uman li"e%
Elements:
o &$ow e@teme indi""een#e to t$e 6alue o" $uman li"e
o ; was awae o" t$e is)s o" t$e #ondu#t o t$e #ondu#t was #ontay to law%
Example: Man wit$ a tained "ig$ting dog not "en#ed and !ote#ting weed !lants% C$ild
gets mulled by dog and dies%
.n6oluntay Manslaug$te
&nvoluntar, Manslau'ter:
'e#)less o 3oss *Ciminal- negligent
*ross -Criminal) 3e'li'ence:
Eailue to be awae o" a substantial and unjusti"iable is) t$at #i#umstan#es e@ist o a
esult will "ollow, and su#$ "ailue #onstitutes a goss de6iation "om t$e standad o" #ae
w$i#$ a easonable !eson would e@e#ise in t$e situation%
o Dould t$e easonable man "ail to be awae o" t$e is)F
Example: 3et into a #a a##ident and someone dies%
Penal Code. /im!le or 6rdinar, 3e'li'ence:
Eailue to e@e#ise t$e Jodinay #autionK ne#essay to ma)e out t$e de"en#e o" e@#usable
$omi#ide%
o Odinay #aution is t$e )ind o" #aution t$at a man o" easonable !uden#e would
e@e#ise unde t$e same o simila #onditions%
Example: ,oung #ou!le $a6e a baby wit$ a toot$ in"e#tion% 5$ey did not want to bing
t$e baby to t$e do#to be#ause t$ey t$oug$t it would get ta)en away% 3a6e t$e baby just
1s!iin "o t$e !ain% Let t$e in"e#tion get wose, and baby dies%
7e 8Misdemeanour Manslau'ter9 Rule:
1n unintended $omi#ide t$at o##us duing t$e #ommission o" an unlaw"ul a#t not
amounting to a "elony%
(6en w$ee ; does not a#t wit$ t$e degee o" #ul!ability odinaily e9uied "o .M
!edi#ated on #iminally negligent be$a6iou% ;4s intentional #ommission o" a
misdemeanou su!!lies t$e #ul!ability e9uied to im!ose $omi#ide liability%
Example: ;i6e w$o non-negligently #auses t$e deat$ o" a !edestian due to t$e di6es
"ailue to obey a sto! sign, in 6iolation o" ta""i# odinan#e, is guilty o" manslaug$te%
Example: Peson unjusti"iably !us$es 6i#tim in t$e #$est wit$ $is "oeam *#iminal
battey- and t$e 6i#tim, into@i#ated, "alls down and sti)es t$e ba#) o" $is $ead on t$e
!a6ement and dies, #on6i#tion o" manslaug$te%
Example: ;i6e going one mile o6e t$e s!eed limit in a #onstu#tion 8one )ills a
#onstu#tion wo)e may be $eld liable "o manslaug$te #on6i#tion
Model Penal Code
Manslau'ter:
Committed e#)lessly o is mude wit$ an e@teme mental o emotional distuban#e wit$
a easonable e@!lanation o e@#use%
5ested unde a moe &7CH(C5.G( &51+;1';
3e'li'ent Homicide:
Committed negligently
Eelony Mude
Felon, Murder:
Eelony 0 a )illing 2 Eelony Mude
Eelony mude do#tine de#laes t$at one is guilty o" mude i" a deat$ esults "om
#ondu#t duing t$e #ommission o attem!ted #ommission o" any "elony%
Common Law Felonies tat could su!!ort felon, murder are:
+uglay
Ason
Ra!e
Robbey
)idna!!ing
/odomy
Res *estae:
Pla#e o" sa"ety
." t$e "elons etun to t$ei !la#e o" sa"ety, t$e "elony is o6e and no "elony mude #an
$a!!en%
.t is detemined to w$en ; t$in)s t$ey $a6e ea#$ed a !la#e o" sa"ety%
&nerentl, %an'erous Felon, Limitation:
Loo)s at t$e #ime in t$e absta#t *!ull ba#) "om w$at $a!!ened, and loo) at t$is #ime,
it is always dangeous, and in ode to do t$is, loo) at t$e statute "o t$is #ime- and does
a statutoy analysis to detemine i" t$e "elony is in$eently dangeous to $uman li"e
*always dangeous to $uman li"e-%
C1''?& ae always in$eently dangeous%
Example: Giolating a ta""i# a#t t$at wouldn4t nomally #ause deat$, is not a "elony
mude%
Aaron Rule: Minoity 'ule
5o #$age wit$ EM must !o6e some taditional "om o" mali#e%
Must !o6e bot$ mens ea "o "elony and "o mude%
Example: ; obs a stoe and s$oots #le) and )illed t$em% D$ile ;4s $usband was in t$e
#a t$in)ing ; was just buying somet$ing, #an $usband be #$aged wit$ EMF +o be#ause
$ad to !o6e taditional mali#e%
Mer'er %octrine.
Eelony was an )ey !at o" t$e $omi#ide, so t$e mens ea "o t$e "elony meges wit$ t$e
mens ea "o t$e )illing t$at too) !la#e%
7se t$e mens ea "o t$e mude itsel" be#ause t$ey wee an inti#ate !at o" one anot$e%
Po6es mens ea "o one #ime%
Example: Commit assault wit$ a deadly wea!on be"oe #ommitting t$e $omi#ide wit$ a
gun%
&nde!endent Felon, %octrine:
7ndelying "elony must be inde!endent o" t$e deat$-!odu#ing a#t, t$ee"oe it is not EM
be#ause you #annot be #$aged wit$ a "elony and a mude%
." t$e "elony is an integal !at o" t$e )illing *li)e assault-, EM is not t$e !o!e #$age%
Example: Commit a obbey and someone dies% 5$e obbey #ould $a6e $a!!ened
wit$out t$e )illing%
A'enc, A!!roac: Majoity 'ule
'es!onsible only "o w$at t$e agents in a #ime do%
Example: D$en someone is a#ting as my agent, we ae wo)ing toget$e% Cut i" a !oli#e
o""i#e #omes in and a##identally s$oots t$e #le), $e was not my agent, so . #an4t be
es!onsible%
Pro(imate A!!roac: Minoity 'ule
D$oe6e sets t$e w$eel in motion, t$at !eson is es!onsible "o t$at deat$, e6en t$oug$
t$ey didn4t )ill t$e !eson%
Example: .4m obbing a li9uo stoe, and someone #omes in and wants to join in, !ulls
out t$ei wea!on and )ills someone% 7nde agen#y ule, not es!onsible, but unde t$e
!o@imate ule, . am es!onsible%
&e@ual O""en#es
Common Law
Ra!e:
Canal )nowledge *!enetation $owe6e slig$t- o" a woman *; and G ae not maied,
only women #an be a G o" a!e, only men #an be ;-, by "o#e *in ode to !o6e "o#e, G
$ad to s$ow esistan#e, needed to be somet$ing t$at #ould be des#ibed o !$ysi#ally
mani"ested% Could be e@#used i" ; used deadly "o#e o t$eat o" deadly "o#e- and
against $e will *wit$out $e #onsent-%
Marital e(em!tion: 1 maied women #ould not be a!ed%
/tatutor, ra!e: 5$e a!e o" a #$ild%
Mici'an C/C /tatute:
1
st
and L
d
degee: se@ual !enetation
2
nd
and B
t$
degee: se@ual #onta#t *tou#$ing t$e intimate !ats o #lot$es in t$e aea o" t$e
intimate !ats "o t$e !u!ose o" se@ual gati"i#ation-
1
st
and 2
nd
degee: e9uie agga6ation

Mis#ellaneous Cimes
+ur'lar,: Cea)ing and enteing t$e dwelling $ouse o" anot$e at nig$t wit$ t$e intent to
#ommit a "elony t$eein%
Mens Rea: 5$e intent to #ommit a "elony t$eein%
o 5$e intent must be !esent at t$e time o" bea)ing and enteingM t$ee"oe t$e
mens ea and t$e a#tus eus must be #on#uent%
o Example: 1 $omeless !eson goes into a $ouse to stay wam, but w$en $e got into
t$e $ouse $e de#ided to ta)e a steeo%
+rea2in': 5o #eate a bea#$ o an o!ening%
o Constructive +rea2in': #eating an o!ening by "aud o t$eat o" "o#e, t$e "elon
did not !$ysi#ally do it but t$ey mig$t as well $a6e%
Example: ; lied to gain enty into t$e $ouse o $eld G at gun!oint to let
t$em in%
o Example: O!ening a doo/window% ." t$e doo is #losed but not lo#)ed, it is still
#onsideed a bea)ing%
Enterin': 3o in t$e o!ening, #an be done wit$ body o wit$ tools%
o Example: 7se a wie $ange to !ut t$oug$ a window and ta)e somet$ing "om
t$e $ouse% 5$e $ange is used as an e@tension o" t$e body%
%wellin' House: 1 !la#e w$ee a !eson esides o $as esided%
o .t is not a !la#e a !eson will eside in t$e "utue li)e a $ouse unde #onstu#tion%
o Example: 1 #onstu#tion wo)e slee!s in t$e $ouse t$at is in t$e "amewo) o"
being built%
o Non-Example o" dwelling $ouse: 1 stoe o $otel
o Curtila'e: buildings wit$in #lose !o@imity o" t$e dwelling $ouse%
At 3i't: amount o" lig$t in t$e s)y%
o ." t$ee was enoug$ sunlig$t, and you #ould see w$at4s going on, it4s not nig$t%
Arson: Mali#ious buning o" t$e dwelling $ouse o" anot$e%
Mens Rea: .ntent to bun o a e#)less disegad "o a 6ey $ig$ is) t$at buning will
o##u%
+urnin': any a#t o" #$aing o moe to t$e dwelling $ouse and not t$e "i@tues%
%wellin' ouse: !eo!le4s $ome *same as buglay-%
+atter,: 5$e unlaw"ul use o" "o#e esulting in $am"ul o o""ensi6e #onta#t%
Mens Rea: .ntent to #eate #onta#t o negligen#e t$at leads to t$e #onta#t o an unlaw"ul
a#t t$at leads to t$e #onta#t
o Example "o .ntent: 5$ows a !un#$ and ma)es #onta#t
o Example "o negligen#e: 1 do#to goes into sugey and not )nowing w$at t$ey
ae o!eating on%
o Example "o unlaw"ul a#t: .n6ol6ed in a #iminal a#t w$en #ommitting t$e #onta#t
>am"ul o O""ensi6e #onta#t: 'easonable !eson standad%
Examples
Cutting someone4s bead w$ile t$ey ae slee!ing%
(@am!le: 1dministeing a !oison to someone%
.n"li#ting someone wit$ a disease%
Com!elling t$e blind to wal) into ta""i#%
<Can sometimes $a6e #onsent, li)e in s!ots, but beyond t$e ealm, no moe #onsent%
Assault: 1ttem!ted but unsu##ess"ul battey%
Mens Rea: 1ttem!ted battey w$ee you ty to batte you 6i#tim and "ail *G does not
need to be awae- o intent to #eate "ea o a!!e$ension in t$e 6i#tim *G needs to be
awae-%
o Example o" attem!ted battey: &wing at someone and miss
o Example o" a!!e$ension: ." you don4t sit down, .4m going to $it you
)idna!!in': Eo#ible mo6ement o se#et #on"inement o" t$e 6i#tim wit$out law"ul aut$oity
and against t$e 6i#tim4s will%
Forci#le Movement: Mo6ing G somew$ee t$ey don4t want to go
/ecret Confinement: +o one )nows w$ee t$ey ae and )ee!ing t$em a se#et%
Lac2s Lawful Autorit, 6ver 4ictim: ,ou don4t $a6e !emission o6e t$at !eson li)e
a legal guadian would $a6e%
A'ainst te 4ictim:s 0ill: Dit$out t$ei #onsent