ONE SHEET- CRIMINAL LAW

 '44RO'%&
ACTUS REUS –
REUS – guilty hand 1) voluntary conscious
conscious act causing an unlawful
unlawful result OR 2) omission, if there is a legal duty to >$R'<
act (def must be physically able to act) 10 to determine if crime, find
guilty mind that moved guilty
MENS REA-
REA- guilty mind levels hand,
hand, causin
causingg bad result
result
1) purpose – conscious obective to bring about prohibited result ( unle
unless
ss stri
strict
ct liab
liabil
ilit
ity)
y)
2) !nowledge – !nows with almost absolute certainty will produce prohibited result without ustification0
") inten
intentt – acts
acts with
with purp
purpose
ose and
and !now
!nowled
ledge
ge (#$%&
(#$%&O'
O'
 O**
O**$+
$+++-- intent
intent mean
means
s purpo
purpose
se only
only)) &omicide-
&omicide- oo! for actual actual
) rec!lessness-aware that conduct creates unustifiable ris!, but ignores and does it anyway cause
cause of death,
death, pro8imate
pro8imate
) criminal negligent-unustifiable
negligent-unustifiable ris! w.o subective awareness
awareness of doing so, but reasonable person would have-
have- re/uires cause of death, and whether 
gross deviation from normal +O% any defenses or e8cuses0 If 
unlawful
INTENT-
INTENT- general- only re/uires a desire or state of mind to do the prohibited act- rec!less or criminally negligent  1) e8pected to !ill or not
+pecific-
+pecific- re/uires proof that defendant intended
intended to produce
produce a specifica
specifically
lly prohibited
prohibited harm0 #$%3+
#$%3+ 4R4O+
4R4O+ OR 2) if intended, any eraserD
KNOWLEDGE. ") if no, 4 and 3D
STRICT LIABILITY crimes-
LIABILITY  crimes- need no mens rea, '% 5 R+ 6 guilt0 7ista!e no defense 0
&* %R#7
CONCURRENCE- not necessary that mens rea and act occur at e8actly at same time, but mental state must inspire the act0 10 how obtain
obtainDD respa
respass,
ss,
delivery or tric!
CAUSATION- must be actual
CAUSATION- actual cause and pro8imate
pro8imate cause0 " !inds, 9 *OR,
*OR, +9+'$#'
+9+'$#' *'%OR
*'%OR '%%R'#O$
'%%R'#O$ 20 ac/uire possession or title
(happens a lot in the mercy !illing situation) "0 formed intent to
4RO:#7'
4RO:#7' cause only in doubt when there is a supervening cause perm
perman
anen
entl
tly
y depr
depriv
ive
e at
some time while in unlawful
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS- possession of the property
HOMICIDE-unlawful &ali($  (unlawful means without ustification or e8cuse)
HOMICIDE-unlawful killin !f an!"#$% #u&an '$in wi"# &ali($ (unlawful
;#& 7'#% 7+ 9 7R3R, intentional or unintentional
7'#%- :4R++-
:4R++- purpose, OR !nowledge, OR, intent to inflict grievous
grievous bodily harm #74#3- def caused caused death as result
of e8treme rec!lessness
rec!lessness or criminally
criminally negligent
negligent conduct,
conduct, wanton
wanton disregard for value of human life0 , even when !illing
unintentional, and implied under a felony murder category
 '$< $';*
$';* =##$>
=##$> 5 7'#% 6 7R3R, even even if defendant did not set out to !ill or e8pect
e8pect that their conduct would0
- 't common law, if victim dies more than a yr later, death was unforeseeable – 7O3R$ ';- eliminatedeliminated this rule0
- ?$ #* 3* not personally do the !illing, can be liable if, accomplice, conspiracy, substantial
substantial factor and co-felony liability0

D$)%a*$+ #$a%"-%$(kl$,, !% %!,, n$ (!n+u(" (au,in $"%$&$ %i,k wi"# wan"!n +i,%$a%+ f!% #u&an lif$.
7$7O$#%+
/$l!n0 &u%+$%
&u%+$% 1 unin"$n"i
unin"$n"i!nal
!nal killin
killin )%!i&a"
)%!i&a"$l0
$l0 (au,$+
(au,$+ +u%in "#$ (!&&i,,i
(!&&i,,i!n !n !f a ,$%i!u, !% in#$%$n"l0
in#$%$n"l0
+an$%!u, f$l!n0. malice malice automatic
automatically
ally established
established if murder occurs
occurs during 1) right type of felony
felony either enumerated
enumerated in /$l!
/$l!n0
n0 &u%+
&u%+$%$% (%i&
(%i&$,
$,--
statute or independent of !illing and inherently dangerous0 2) 'nd right connection to the felony, foreseeably outgrowth of the 9'RR=
9'RR=-bu-burgl
rglary
ary,, arson,
arson,
felony and ") right time received inuries during, attempt, commission,
commission, or immediate flight from the felony rape robbery !idnapping
%o-felon liability- maority agency rule –each felon is the agent of the other 
----3ifference between 1 st and 2 nd degree- 1 st re/uires premeditation and deliberation, or special circumstances, eg, !illing child,
----3ifference ,)$(
,)$(if
ifi(
i( in"$
in"$n"n" (%i&
(%i&$,$,
torture, lyin g in wait or a police officer, poison, 7+ &'?
&'? #$$ O =#, +4%#*#% #$$ +%'9 *'R7 *-
+oli
+olici
cita
tati
tion
on,, cons
conspi
pira
racy
cy,,
2!lun"a%0
2!lun"a%0 &an,lau#"$%- in"$n"i!nal killin 'u" &i"ia"$+ '0 a+$3ua"$ )%!*!(a"i!n n$a"in &ali($ atte
attemp
mpt,t, batt
batterery
y, frau
fraud,
d,
@heat of passionA ordinary person could lose self-control, mere words not enough, must be causal connection between assa
assaul
ult,
t, rape
rape,, murd
murderer,,
provocation and !illing, and time in between cannot be long enough that the reasonable person would have cooled off0 embe
embeEE EEle
leme
ment nt,, larc
larcen
enyy,
 'lso available for ?7- diminished mental capacity short of insanity, unreasonable udgment of self-defense, it wont get you forgery
ac/uittal, but not murder 

In*!lun"a%0 Man,lau#"$%- unin"$n"i!nal killin %$,ul"in f%!& un4u,"ifia'l$ %i,k (%$a"i!n %$(kl$,,n$,, !% %!,, n$.
"#a" i,n5" ,uffi(i$n" "! %i,$ "! i&)li$+ &ali($.
3 aware of ric!, and ignores6 rec!lessness, 3 unaware, but reasonable person would be6 crim neg
7isdemeanor manslaughter-minority
manslaughter-minority of states,- when murder occurs during inherently dangerous misdemeanor 

Ba""$%0- in"$n"i!nal a))li(a"i!n !f f!%($ "! a )$%,!n6 $n in"$n"7 elevates to aggravated
aggravated if causes serious harm, or uses
deadly weapon, or batters protected class, li!e !ids, spouse or police officer 3*$++ consent, defense of self and others
as long as proportional, or to prevent a crime, as long as proportional force

A,,aul" 68 "0)$,7 97 fail$+ 'a""$%0- 6 victim need not be aware) 87

aware)  87 f$a% !f an i&&in$n" 'a""$%0- reasonable apprehension –
words insufficient- aggravated if def uses dangerous weapon, intent to rape or murder, or victim protected by statute
Ma0#$&- old common law crime dismemberment or disable victims ability to fight – many uris0 %all this aggravated battery

/al,$ i&)%i,!n&$n"- in"$n"i!nal (!nfin$&$n"

Ki+na))in- CL-unlawful %$,"%ain" '0 f!%($ "! ,$n+ "! an!"#$% (!un"%0 MODERN- ,uffi($, "! "ak$ "! an!"#$% l!(a"i!n
!% (!n($al$+6 if *i("i& n!" &!*$+ n!" ki+na))in7

Ra)$- CL (a%nal kn!wl$+$ !f w!&an n!" wif$ aain," will wi"# f!%($ !% "#%$a" !f f!%($ MODERN
*orce of penetration sufficient, and doesnBt have to be a woman, and can be against a wife +'OR<- strict liability
intercourse with female under 1C6 rape even if victim e8presses consent, and even if 3 mista!en about age

Bia&0-,"%i(" lia'ili"0-
lia'ili"0- &a%%ia$ "! &!%$ "#an !n$ )$%,!n lac!
)$%,!n  lac! of !nowledge about other marriage is not a defense
In($,"- ,$ '$"w$$n (l!,$ %$la"i!n, degree of closeness varies

CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY-

THE/T CRIMES- &u," #a*$ in"$n" "! )$%&an$n"l0 +$)%i*$
La%($n0-unlawful
La%($n0-unlawful ta!ing of property of someone elseBs property, and carrying away, wi"# in"$n" "! )$%&an$n"l0 +$)%i*$
 $o intent to perm, deprive, or honestly believes is his, no larceny
E&'$::l$&$n"-unlawful (!n*$%,i!n !f )%!)$%"0 in YOUR )!,,$,,i!n wi"# in"$n" "! ,"$al.  +ome action toward property
which seriously interferes with the rights of the owner0 (slight movement or limited use not sufficient) &onest belief that def has
right to property can negate intent, or if no intent to permanently deprive0
T#$f" '0 fal,$ )%$"$n,$,- false representation of material fact, which causes victim to pass title to property through fraud
#$$ O 3*R'3
La%($n0 '0 "%i(k-form of larceny where def obtaining possession, $O #, by fraud with intent to steal0
E"!%"i!n- obtaining property of another by threats of future harm to victim or his property
R!''$%0-la%($n0 '0 f!%($ !% "#%$a" !f f!%($ , honest belief of right negates intent to steal- force must be contemporaneous
with the ta!ing0
R$($i*in S"!l$n P%!)$%"0-receive stolen property, !now by def to be stolen, intent to perm0 3eprive0
/!%$%0-fraudulent ma!ing of false writing with apparent legal significance and intent to ma!e wrongful use0
 'lteration must be material0

CRIMES AGAINST HABITATION-

Bu%la%0- CL- B;E !f +w$llin !f an!"#$% a" ni#" wi"# in"$n" "! (!&&i" f$l!n0 "#$%$in MODERN- BREAKING use of 
force to create opening sufficient, and even slightest enlargement of an opening is enough, night not a re/uirement, a
constructive entering o!, and even if by fraud0 ENTERING and portion of the body inside structure, use of tool sufficient, does
not have to be dwelling any more0 7+ re/uire to commit a felony at the time of the brea!ing0 +#7'$O+ *O$#O+
#$$0
A%,!n- %- malicious act creates considerable ris! of dwelling of another 7O3R$- dispensed with dwelling re/uirement

INCHOATE CRIMES-6 incomplete) all specific intent

S!li(i"a"i!n-SPECI/IC #$$ O enticing, encouraging another to commit a target offense, incl misdemeanors, offense
complete at communication0 #f other commits , solicitation merges into that crime and not solicitation
A""$&)"- SPECI/IC INTENT6)u%)!,$7 to bring about a criminal result, must have overt act in furtherance( moving preparation
into perpetration) 74%- substantial step towards crime 3*$++- abandon- must be voluntary and complete, leg imposs-
thin! act is illegal but not,($O ' 3*$+ fact imposs- illegal, but def cant do it, # gun bro!en)
C!n,)i%a(0- SPECI/IC INTENT "! a%$$ an+ )u%)!,$ "! (!&&i" unlawful a(" CL- no overt act needed 7O3R$- overt
act in furtherance of ob, re/0 moving from thought to preparation0
Pink$%"!n (%i&$,- each co-conspirator liable for the foreseeable outgrowth of the conspiracy committed in furtherance of the
goal %O$+#3R- % needed 2 guilty to ma!e conspiracy, 73OR$- unilateral o! ( ie conspire with false friend);&'RO$
R- cannot be convicted of conspiracy if the crime re/uired more than one person as an element 3*$++- complete
and voluntary w.d e8empts from future crimes of the conspiracy, but renunciation ( thwarting consp goal) defense to conspiracy
itself 

A((!&)li($ lia'ili"0- criminally liable as accomplice if facilitates principle in commission or attempt, including encouragement0
;#& 4R4O+ to bring about the crime0 iable for all foreseeable outgrowths of primary crime0 3*$++- %- timely
notice to principle theyBre out 74%- must render their assistance useless, warn police or other effort to thwart0 'ccessory
before the fact aids, but not at scene0 'fter fact, proof re/uired that 1) felony was committed 2) accessory !new of felony ")
personally gave aid to hinder apprehension, conviction or punishment,
D$f$n,$, 2 !inds- F+#*#%'#O$ - action normally illegal, but not under these circumstances :%+- still unlawful but
e8cused

E<CUSES- In,ani"0- if 3 legally insane at time if crime, no criminal liability /!u% in,ani"0 "$,", 1) 7B $aughten- if 3 either 
did not !now what he was doing was wrong, OR incapable of understanding the nature and /uality of act ( ie thought gun was
tv remote) 2) #rresistible impulse rule-even if 3 !new it was wrong as result of mental disease or defect, could not control an
irresistible impulse0 ") 74%- combines , and allows finding under wither 7B$aughten or impulse rule )3urham – legally insane
if act a @productA of mental disease or defect0 In"!i(a"i!n IN2OLUNTARY a "!"al +$f$n,$ ?oluntary- only will remove
specific intent down to general intent Du%$,,- e8cuses crim conduct when reasonable believes only way to avoid death or 
bodily harm $O typically a defense to murder, e8cept felony murder 
=USTI/ICATION DE/ENSES- S$lf +$f$n,$- '+= ;'+ # R'< $%++'R<D 3 must be in imminent harm and use only
proportional force 3'3< force only permitted in response to imminent threat of grievous 90#0
RR' rule- % @retreat to the wallA 7O3R$- most states repealed0 $ever have to retreat form own home, auto or office
D$f$n,$ !f !"#$%,- same as of self, even of mista!enly uses force against the initial victim0 D$f$n,$ )%!)- $O$ deadly
force, if def has reasonable belief property in imminent danger, and proportional force used0 N$($,,i"0- li!e tort defense of 
necessity00 ie could destroy property to avoid a greater harm