Mens Rea and Judicial System Exam Overview

The jury

Wesson was found guilty of murder even though he did not personally kill his victims. Wesson instructed others to commit the murders for him

<p>The defendant had the intention to commit the crime and understood the consequences of their actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is very difficult to know exactly what a person was thinking when they committed a crime. There is a significant element of uncertainty, and proving a person's internal state can be challenging</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mens rea is a crucial element in establishing a person's guilt. Without mens rea, a person cannot be held criminally responsible for their actions. If a defendant acted without intent, they would not be deemed culpable for the resulting crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Parasomnia is a sleep disorder that involves abnormal behaviors or experiences that occur during sleep.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Somnambulism is the act of sleepwalking, which can involve physically walking around while still asleep.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Kenneth's mother-in-law affectionately referred to him as &quot;Ken&quot;.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Kenneth Parks drove 14 miles to his in-law's house.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Kenneth Parks stabbed his mother-in-law multiple times. He also choked her to death, and he inflicted some blows with a blunt object as well. Finally, he left the weapons by her bedside, as if trying to create the impression that she had fought back.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The victim's bedside</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Parks' weapons suggest that his crime was disorganized. This includes his choice of weapons, which were readily available at the scene, as opposed to bringing weapons from his own home or from a specific location. The disorganization adds to the likelihood that the crime itself was spontaneous and impulsive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>After the murder, Kenneth Parks left the murder weapons at the scene, went for a short walk, and ended up at a nearby hospital. He then attempted to commit suicide by stabbing himself, but he was unsuccessful when the medical staff intervened.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Parks' defense lawyer argued that Parks' actions were influenced by his family's history of sleep disorders, the fact that he cut the tendons in his hands following the crime, and his attempt at suicide after the crime, which was an unusual and erratic behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the trial court's decision to acquit Kenneth Parks. The court found that the evidence did not support the notion that Parks had acted with murderous intent, concluding that his actions were likely related to sleepwalking or a sleep disorder.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sir Edward Coke's contributions are associated with the development of the common law system. He was a key figure in the growth and clarification of English common law during the 17th century.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>JJS</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cognitive and emotional maturity</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in executive functions, such as planning, decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The limbic system is responsible for processing emotions, forming memories, and regulating instinctive behaviors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When the Prefrontal cortex is not fully developed, it makes it difficult for juveniles to rationally control their instincts and impulsive behaviors. This lack of control can often lead to them acting on their immediate urges, regardless of the consequences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The research project conducted by psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg designed to assess children's moral reasoning was called the 'Spilled Inkwell Test'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Spilled Inkwell test compared Timmy to Jimmy. This test would help to identify when someone in the juvenile justice system can have their case waived and be heard in an adult criminal court.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When the juvenile justice system waives its protections and sends a juvenile's case to adult criminal court, this procedure is called a 'waiver.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The factors that influence a judge's decision to waive a case to adult court are often based on the severity of the crime committed, the juvenile's age, their criminal history, the likelihood of rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system, and the level of risk they pose to the community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The frequency of waivers in the US varies significantly across jurisdictions. There is no single national figure, as each state has its own policies and procedures governing waivers, and these practices can differ widely.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In California, adult criminal court jurisdiction typically begins when individuals reach the age of 18.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A not-guilty verdict does not mean the jury believes the defendant is innocent, but instead that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty of the crime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Legal justifications for a defendant's criminal actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>While the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is required for the prosecution to prove a defendant's guilt, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to establish an affirmative defense. The defendant needs to provide evidence that supports their defense, although the standard of proof for affirmative defenses is typically less stringent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) refers to a mental state at the time of the crime, where the individual is deemed unable to understand the nature of their actions or to distinguish right from wrong. Diminished capacity, on the other hand, is a lesser defense that suggests that the defendant, while mentally competent, still lacked the mental capacity to form the necessary intent or plan to commit the crime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Musaoui's defense attorney is likely to argue that he suffered from mental illness or a delusional disorder that prevented him from understanding the gravity and consequences of his actions at the time of the crime. They would attempt to portray that he was not in a state of mind to form the necessary intent to be found guilty of capital murder.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Supreme Court's decision in Furman v. Georgia (1972) found that the death penalty was being applied in a racially discriminatory way, leading to a moratorium on executions in the U.S. While states still had the death penalty on the books, no person was actually executed for several years as a result of this ruling.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In capital murder cases, the two possible punishments are the death penalty or life without parole.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors that lessen the severity of the crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors that exacerbate the severity of the crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>During clemency hearings, the governor acts as the ultimate decision-maker. They are responsible for reviewing the inmate's case, considering the mitigating and aggravating factors, and ultimately making the decision whether to commute or pardon the death sentence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Dr. Skrapec adjusted the whiteboard to represent the potential influence of mitigating factors in balancing the considerations of the case. By moving aggravating factors, he aimed to demonstrate that the case was not entirely black and white and that there were aspects that might warrant leniency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Harris' last meal request included an item related to brain damage. He requested a steak, French fries, and a bowl of ice cream – a seemingly unremarkable request for a last meal. However, the inclusion of a “pre-and postnatal brain damage” component in his request hinted at his awareness of possible factors that contributed to his actions and potentially gave him a reason to seek leniency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is linked to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which can cause a variety of physical and neurological problems, including facial abnormalities, growth retardation, and learning disabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The most significant consequence of alcohol exposure during pregnancy is the damage caused to the developing brain, specifically in the third trimester.</p> Signup and view all the answers