Criminal Law: Elements of Crimes

Study Notes

Theft and Robbery: Proof of property loss by the owner and evidence of felonious taking.
Murder and Homicide: Requirement of a corpse and evidence that death resulted from unlawful actions of the defendant.
Illegal Possession of Firearms: Accused must lack a proper license or permit for possession.
Illegal Possession of Dangerous Drugs: Presence of the illegal drug itself is required as evidence.
Arson: Evidence must show a fire occurred and was intentionally set.

Ensures government collects sufficient evidence before linking a suspect to a crime.
Protects against wrongful convictions and false confessions.

Homicide investigation is a discovery process aiming to determine type of death, identity of deceased, cause of death, and identity of perpetrator.

Focuses on gathering evidence and drawing insights from the scene.
Misinterpretation can lead to escaping guilty individuals.
The initial investigator's actions are crucial in preventing wrongful conclusions.

Mistakes by investigators cannot be rectified post-investigation.
Investigators must maintain the integrity of the crime scene to avoid creating a "burned bridge."

Justifying circumstances like self-defense or necessity can absolve criminal liability.
Infanticide is classified as the unlawful killing of a child within three days of birth.

Identify the nature of crimes based on scenarios involving relationships, intent, and actions taken (e.g., murder, parricide, infanticide).
Killing with intent leads to murder classification, while unintentional or mitigating circumstances may lead to lesser charges.

Understanding distinctions between types of homicide, abduction, and physical injuries.
Awareness of the legal definitions surrounding these actions, including the implications of intent and justification for actions taken.

Knowledge of the legal definitions, evidence requirements, and roles of law enforcement is crucial in criminal investigations and understanding specific categories of crime.