Criminal Law Outline Quiz

A crime that requires proof of a specific mental state (mens rea) in addition to the act itself (actus reus).

A crime that requires proof of the defendant's intent to perform a specific act, but not a specific result.

An exception to the requirement of guilty mind (mens rea) where the act itself is considered criminal, regardless of intent.

A crime that focuses mainly on the act itself, with harm being a potential, but not necessary, consequence.

An outcome or effect caused by a criminal act. These crimes have a specific harm as a defining element.

The legal requirement that the defendant have a guilty mind or a legally proscribed mental state to commit a crime.

The physical act of committing a crime. It's the outward manifestation of the guilty mind.

This doctrine applies when a defendant intends to harm one person but accidentally harms someone else. The defendant's intention is transferred to the victim of the unintended act.

A philosophy of punishment that focuses on the idea of deserved suffering, with the sentence directly tied to the severity of the crime. It looks backward, emphasizing that the offender deserves to be punished for their actions.

A philosophy of punishment that looks forward and focuses on the potential benefits for society. It emphasizes deterrence and the potential for rehabilitation, aiming to prevent future crimes.

A legal principle that requires laws to be clear, understandable, and predictable. This ensures that people can understand the law and avoid breaking it.

A rule of interpretation in law that favors the defendant when a statute is ambiguous or unclear. It prioritizes fairness and avoids an overly broad interpretation of the law.

A principle that guides the severity of punishment, aiming to match the punishment to the gravity of the crime. It considers the harm inflicted, the blameworthiness of the offender, and appropriate consequences.

The process of interpreting a law to determine its intended meaning. This involves looking at the plain text, legislative intent, and past legal precedents.

A key consideration in statutory interpretation, focusing on the purpose and goals the legislature intended to achieve with the law. This involves examining the history of the law, surrounding documents, and debates leading to its enactment.

A legal doctrine that prioritizes the clarity and specificity of laws, emphasizing that the judiciary should not create new laws or extend the scope of existing laws beyond their literal meaning.

A legal defense for criminal responsibility that argues the defendant was so mentally ill or defective that they couldn't understand the wrongfulness of their actions or control their behavior.

A component of the insanity defense that focuses on the defendant's ability to understand the nature and quality of their actions. It's rarely used because individuals who lack this understanding typically won't reach trial.

A component of the insanity defense that focuses on the defendant's ability to understand that their actions were wrong. This prong often requires a level of psychosis, like delusions or hallucinations.

The legal principle that insanity doesn't cover things like having a pattern of criminal or anti-social behavior. There must be a mental illness or defect present.

The insanity defense uses 'appreciate' (meaning to understand, in a legal sense) instead of 'know' (which is more emotional). This aligns with a more legal, retributive approach to justice.

Hallucinations are false sensory perceptions, like seeing things that aren't there. Delusions are false beliefs, often based on misinterpretations of reality. Both can be relevant to the insanity defense.

The insanity defense involves a legal and medical determination. It considers the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime and whether it affected their understanding of the law.

The insanity defense requires a high level of mental impairment. Common mental health issues like depression or anxiety are usually not enough to meet the legal standard.

The mental state required to commit a crime. It refers to the intent or knowledge with which a person acts.

An action or behavior that is illegal. It's the physical act of committing a crime.

An incomplete attempt to commit a crime. It involves actions taken towards committing the crime but not fully completing it.

A legal test for attempt crimes where the defendant must have taken a significant step toward completing the crime. They must be close enough to success for danger to exist.

A legal test for attempt crimes where the actions taken by the defendant must clearly indicate that they are about to commit the crime. The actions themselves must be evidence of intent.

A legal test for attempt crimes where the defendant must have the ability to commit the crime immediately. They need to be in a position to carry out the crime.

A legal test for attempt crimes that considers the events leading up to the crime. It allows for abandonment of the attempt if the defendant changes their mind before taking the final step.

Sexual intercourse without the woman's consent, obtained by fear, force, or fraud.

A mistake about a key fact that negates the required mental state (mens rea) for a crime.

A defense where the actor believes they are in immediate danger and must use force to protect themselves from unlawful force.

A subjective standard used in self-defense where the actor's honest belief that force is necessary is sufficient, regardless of whether it is objectively reasonable.

A combination of subjective and objective standards used in self-defense where the belief that force is necessary must be both honest (subjective) and reasonable (objective).

A defense where the actor uses force to protect another person, believing they are in immediate danger and need protection.

A rule used in defense of others, stating the actor can use force if they reasonably believed the person they were defending had a right to use force.

A rule used in defense of others, stating the actor can use force if they reasonably believed the other person was in danger, even if they were mistaken.

A defense where the actor uses force to protect their property, believing it is necessary to prevent unlawful entry or taking.

A defense where the actor commits a crime to prevent a greater harm from occurring, using the least harmful means possible.

A defense where the actor is forced to commit a crime under threat of death or serious bodily harm to themselves or a close relative.

A subjective standard used in duress where the defendant's belief about the threat must be reasonable, but not necessarily true.

A combination of subjective and objective standards used in duress, requiring both a threat of immediate death or serious bodily harm and a lack of reasonable alternatives.

The defense of duress may be available if a woman is forced to commit a crime by her husband, but it often depends on the specifics of the situation.

The 'castle doctrine' allows homeowners to use deadly force to protect themselves against an intruder, without a duty to retreat, within certain limitations.

Occurs when an actor mistakenly believes they have the right to use force in self-defense, but are wrong about a key element of the defense.

This happens when a suspect takes actions that clearly show they are preparing to commit a crime, even if they haven't finished the criminal act yet.

Acts that would have been a crime if the suspect had accurate knowledge of the situation.

When the crime involves a specific outcome, and the suspect takes actions that they believe will lead to that outcome.

The criminal law principle that the severity of the punishment should correspond to the seriousness of the crime.

The legal requirement that there must be an actual act beyond mere preparation to prove an attempt.

The law does not consider a person who has started to commit a crime but then gives up to have committed an attempt.

The act of abandoning an attempt to commit a crime does not get you out of trouble, it's still considered an attempt.

The punishment for an attempt is usually a lesser penalty than the punishment for actually completing the crime.