Mens Rea and Judicial System Exam Overview

In a criminal trial, the jury or judge determines whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

The two essential elements are "actus reus" (guilty act) and "mens rea" (guilty mind).

Actus reus refers to the physical act of committing a crime.

Mens rea refers to the mental state of the defendant at the time of the crime. It indicates whether the defendant intended to commit the act and understood its consequences.

The Marcus Wesson case in Fresno in 2005 is an example of an exception to the requirement of mens rea because Wesson, despite admitting to the killings, was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Mens rea plays a crucial role in determining criminal responsibility. In the case of a guilty verdict, it means that the defendant understood the nature of their actions and intended to commit the crime.

Parasomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by unusual behaviors occurring during sleep.

Somnambulism is a parasomnia characterized by sleepwalking. It is a condition that can affect a person's ability to form mens rea.

Factors like mental illness, intoxication, or developmental disabilities can impair a person's ability to form mens rea. They can make it difficult for the person to understand the nature of their actions or their consequences.

The juvenile justice system (JJS) operates separately from the adult criminal justice system (CJS) with the goal of rehabilitating young offenders.

In some cases, the protections afforded to juveniles in the JJS might be waived, leading to their trial in an adult court.

Factors considered when deciding whether to waive a juvenile case include the severity of the crime, the juvenile's prior criminal history, and their potential danger to the community.

Although a jury finding a defendant not guilty does not mean they believe the defendant is innocent, it does mean the prosecution failed to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Affirmative defenses are legal arguments that justify the defendant's actions, challenging the presence of mens rea. Examples include mistake of fact, intoxication, duress, necessity, self-defense, and insanity.

Mistake of fact occurs when a defendant commits an illegal act based on a misunderstanding of the facts. The standard for this defense often requires the mistake to be reasonable and honest.

Intoxication is a defense that argues the defendant's impairment due to alcohol or drugs compromised their ability to form mens rea. It often needs to be proven that the intoxication was involuntary or so severe it rendered the defendant unable to understand their actions.

Duress is a defense where the defendant claims they committed the crime under the threat of immediate and serious harm to them or another person.

Necessity argues that the defendant committed the crime to prevent an imminent and greater harm. It is often used in situations like breaking the law to save a life, although it's very difficult to successfully use this defense.

Self-defense is a defense that argues the defendant acted to protect themselves or another person from imminent harm.

Insanity is a legal defense that claims the defendant was incapable of understanding the nature of their actions or distinguishing right from wrong due to a mental illness.

A surviving 9/11 terrorist could argue that they were not guilty by reason of insanity based on the extreme indoctrination and pressure they faced, leading them to lose touch with reality and any sense of morality.

The defense of diminished capacity argues that the defendant's mental capacity was impaired at the time of the crime, but not to the extent of complete insanity. This can reduce the severity of the charge.

After the Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia (1972), all inmates on death row at that time were reprieved. The death penalty was effectively suspended in the United States.

Clemency is a process where a governor can reduce the severity of a sentence, such as changing a death sentence to life imprisonment.

Teratogens are substances or conditions that can cause birth defects or developmental problems in a fetus.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a condition caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. It can lead to physical deformities and cognitive impairments.

Ann Streissguth's 1991 article highlighted the significance of FAS as a leading preventable cause of intellectual disability.

The "phenomenological method" focuses on subjective experiences and interpretations of reality, in contrast to objective facts.

The decision of guilty or not guilty in a criminal trial is made by the jury. In an insanity trial, the jury determines whether the defendant was legally insane at the time of the crime.

After being found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI), a defendant is typically sent to a secure psychiatric facility for treatment and evaluation. This is a change in their legal status from being a defendant to being a patient.

The Supreme Court case Foucha v. Georgia ruled that civilly committed individuals who were no longer violent could not be kept in a secure institution indefinitely. They must be released unless they pose a risk to themselves or others.

In general, a person is considered an adult at 18 years old in California. However, juveniles as young as 14 can be tried in adult courts for serious crimes. The minimum age for such trials in Vermont is 10 years old.

The Louisiana case in 1992 challenged the continued confinement of individuals found NGRI who were no longer mentally disordered but remained dangerous. This case raised questions about the balance between individual rights and public safety.

NGRI pleas are uncommon, with only a small percentage of felony trials including them. Success rates for these pleas are even lower, meaning they rarely result in acquittal.

Faking insanity can be detrimental for the following reasons: 1) It is very difficult to successfully fake a mental illness, and 2) If detected, faking insanity can result in a more severe sentence than the original charge.

Malingering involves deliberately faking or exaggerating illness or impairment to gain something like avoiding work or getting attention. It's different from genuine mental illness.

Factors that influence the success of an NGRI plea include the severity of the crime, the defendant's mental history, and the strength of the expert testimony. Race and socioeconomic status are not significant factors in determining the outcome.

Psychopathy, while not a form of psychosis, refers to a personality disorder characterized by lack of empathy, guilt, and remorse. They often exhibit manipulative and impulsive behaviors.

Psychopathy is not considered a form of psychosis because psychopaths are generally in touch with reality and are not experiencing delusions or hallucinations.