General Concepts

Elements of Crime

  1. Mens Rea / Intent
    1. Dif. Intent @ C/L
      1. Specif. Intent
      2. Gen. Intent
    2. MPC Categ.
      1. Purpose 2 do forbidden act / 2 cause it
      2. Knowledge req'ed (like tax law)
      3. Neg.
      4. Reckless
      5. SL
      6. Mixed
        1. Where more than 1 mens rea in crime w/dif. levels
  2. Actus Reus / Act
  3. Concurrence of Mens Rea & Actus Reus
  4. Causation
    1. Req'ed 4 homicide & other crimes that req. some kind of result
    2. Actual Causation +
      1. But 4 test
      2. If more than 1 but 4 cause (concur. dir. liab.) exists, use subst'l factor test
    3. Legal / Prox. Causation
      1. Some variations / effect 2 remote from actual cause 2 hold resp.
        1. Variation in person / prop. harmed
        2. Manner of harm
        3. Type / degree of harm
      2. Dir.
        1. Then prox. cause
      3. Indir. / Intervening Acts
        1. Response (Close Link 2 D's Act) /
          1. If normal, prox. cause
            1. Suicide by depression, pain, etc. b/c rape normal
            2. Ord. neg. in med. attn. normal but not gross nge., reckless, / intentional malpract.
        2. Coincidence (Events That Could Happen Anywhere)
          1. If foreseeable, prox. cause
        3. Intervening Acts Could B
          1. V (suicide)
          2. Nat.
          3. Third party (hosp.)
          4. D (cts gen'ly find prox. cause)

Theories of Punish.

  1. Deterrence
    1. Types
      1. Specif. 2 indiv. person
      2. Gen. 2 pub.
    2. Persuade not 2 do something by punish.
  2. Incapacitation
    1. By putting people away, can't commit crime
  3. Rehab.
    1. Reform & Help 2 B Better
  4. Retrib.
    1. Revenge & Sense of Justice

Applic. of Law

  1. No Retro Application
    1. Ex Post Facto Law Rule
      1. Leg. Can't Expand Prior Rules
    2. D /P of Const.
      1. Jud. Must Give Fair Notice So Prohibit Retro Applic. of Unforeseeable Jud'al Dec's
      2. Only if Maj. 's
  2. Presumptions (4 Jury 2 Find Intent in Homicide)
    1. Def.
      1. Use of 1 Fact 2 Reach Concl. of Another Fact
    2. Types
      1. Enough 2 Go 2 Jury
      2. Mandatory But Rebuttable
        1. Must use 2 reach 2nd fact when 1st fact proved
      3. Permissive
        1. Can use 2 infer 1 fact when 1 fact proved
      4. Concl.
        1. Really stmt of law life felony murder

Rape

Elements

  1. At C/L
    1. Carnal Knowledge / Vaginal Intercourse
      1. Penetration, however slight
    2. Of Female Who Is Not Wife
    3. W /o Consent
      1. Resistance element
    4. Force / Threat of Force
      1. Need more than vaginal intercourse
      2. Resistance element (rsns study by yourselves)
    5. Gen. Intent Crime
    6. Stt'ry Rape 4 Under Age 10
  2. At Modern
    1. Intercourse
      1. Other than vaginal intercourse may B incl'ed
      2. Penetration by other obj's
    2. Gender Neutral Person
    3. Consent & Force
      1. MPC elim's consent & focus on force
      2. CA incl's threat of force that's broader than imm. bodily harm like retaliation / misuse by pub. official
    4. Incl's Other Sexual Crimes
    5. CA Adopted Mental Component
      1. Genuine & rational belief (subj. & obj.) on consent is defense
    6. Elim's Resistance
      1. But lang. still intertwined like def. of unconsc.
    7. Stt'ry Rape 4 18 yrs. old
  3. Changes in Modern X in Proced.
    1. Jury Instructions
      1. Cautionary instruction is no longer given (ez 2 charge & hard 2 defend)
    2. Corroboration Rule
      1. Not req'ed in other crimes & abandoned 4 rape
    3. Prior Sex History of V
      1. Before allowed now, restricted by rape shield law
      2. Now, specif. sex activity 4 relev. can B used but can't gen'ly use sex conduct 4 likely 2 consent arg.
    4. Psychological Exam of V
      1. Before allowed, now elim'ed by stt. / not allowed in CA
  4. Changes in Pract'al Handling of Proced.
    1. Changes in DA, cts, etc.

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Ms. Haeji Hong

January 15, 1998
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