Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Section
WhatCriminal
Is a Crime?
Chapter3.1 3
Law
Section 3.1
What Is a Crime?
Section 3.2
Particular Crimes
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Section Outline
Classifications of Crimes
Felonies
Misdemeanors
Criminal Law
Section Outline
Elements of a Crime
Criminal Act
Required State of Mind
Motive
Criminal Law
Section Outline
Defenses to Crimes
Insanity
Entrapment
Self-Defense
Defense of Family Members
Criminal Law
Pre-Learning Question
How do you think crimes are
classified?
Criminal Law
Classifications of Crimes
Crime is considered an act against
the public good
The defendant is the person
accused of a crime.
The prosecutor is the government
attorney who presents the case in
court against the defendant.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
Criminal Law
Classifications of Crimes
The plaintiff is the party that
accuses a person of a crime.
In criminal proceedings, the state or
federal government, representing
the public at large, is the plaintiff.
Criminal Law
Felonies
A felony is a major crime punishable
by imprisonment or death. These
include:
murder
manslaughter
burglary
robbery
arson
Understanding Business and Personal Law
Criminal Law
Misdemeanors
A less serious crime with less sever
penalty is a misdemeanor. These
include:
driving without a license
lying about ones age to purchase
alcohol
leaving the scene of an automobile
accident
Understanding Business and Personal Law
Criminal Law
Pre-Learning Question
How is the American legal system
organized?
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Pre-Learning Question
What do you think are the elements of
a crime?
Criminal Law
Elements of a Crime
A crime is defined by two elements:
the criminal act
the required state of mind
Criminal Law
Criminal Act
Most criminal statutes specifically
explain conduct that is forbidden.
A criminal act must also involve
voluntary conduct.
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Motive
Motive plays no part in proving
criminal liability.
Criminal Law
Pre-Learning Question
What do you think are defenses to a
crime?
Criminal Law
Defenses to Crimes
Defense attorneys try to show that the
prosecution failed to prove the
required elements for the crime
charged to their client.
Criminal Law
Defenses to Crimes
Common defenses are:
insanity
entrapment
self-defense
defense of family members
Criminal Law
Insanity
American law recognizes that people
cannot be held responsible for their
actions if they do not know what they
are doing.
Criminal Law
Insanity
About two-fifths of the U.S. use the
MNaghten Rule and the other threefifths use the American Law Institute
(ALI) test to determine insanity.
Criminal Law
Entrapment
If a law enforcement officer induces a
law-abiding citizen to commit a crime,
the person can use a defense known
as entrapment.
Criminal Law
Self-Defense
When people have good reason to
believe they are in danger of serious
injury or death, they can use force to
protect themselves.
This is defense is known as selfdefense.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
ANSWER
None.
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Chapter