Law and Issues                                                                                              Mr. Thacker

 

            Unit 2 Part 1 (Chapter 7-11):    The Criminal and Juvenile System

 

I.  Nature and Causes of Crime

      A.  Historically—24.2 million crimes, 24% were violent.  Crime is down since 1994

            1.  Social

            2.  Moral

            3.  Values

            4.  Drugs

            5.  Hunger

      B.  Statistically

            1.  More crime in large cities (urban)

            2.  More crime in 15-24 age group. (Violent)

            3.  Males 4x more than females

            4.  68% of women victims knew offenders

            5.  35% of offenders were using alcohol

      C.  Gangs and Crime

            1.  History of gangs – nineteenth century

            2.  Gangs connected with crime bez of profit

            3.  Why to people join gangs

      D.  Guns and the Law     

            1.  2nd Amendment and gun control

            2.  Gun Control Act (1968) and the Brady Act – What are the rules in Washington

      E. Substance Abuse and Crime

            1.  Alcohol – rules and the state of Washington (DWI/DUI)

            2.  BAC

            3.  Controlled Substances Act – classified drugs into five categories

a. Possession, distribution, or sale of drugs is a crime of federal or state laws

                  b. Penalties

                        1.  Manufacture, distribute or sell -10yrs and from $25,000

                        2.  Second offence is usually double the first

                        3.  Possession is usually a misdemeanor sometimes felony

F.  Victims of Crime--There are many social groups which help the victims of crime but often the court will, force the criminal to pay.

            1.  Who are the targets?

            2.  Restitution -- Compensate the victim – (MADD)

      G.  The Cost of Crime Effects Everyone

            1.  Legal System – Megan’s Law

            2.  Police Force – Good Samaritan Laws v. Vigilantism

            3.  Prison

            4.  Fear

      H.  Stopping Crime

            1.  Deterrence

            2.  Receiving punishment vs. Hand-slap

            3.  Ethics and Morality

II. General Considerations--single acts can be both civil and criminal, but no state may pass ex post facto laws or no act is a crime unless there was a law on the books signifying it as one.

      A.  Introduction -- Reynolds v. US

      B.  State and Federal Crimes-- Levels of crimes-State vs. Federal

            1.  State- Disorderly conduct, drunk driving, shoplifting

            2.  Federal- Taxes, mail fraud, espionage.

      C.  Pre-requisites

            1.  Elements -- conditions that make an act a crime.

            2.  Act -- the physical crime

            3.  Intent -- person intended or meant to commit the crime (guilty state of mind).

            4.  Strict Liability -- a crime regardless of the knowledge of the person committing the crime.

            5.  Motive -- the reason a person commits the crime 

      D.  Class of Crimes

            1.  Felony

            2.  Misdemeanor

      E.  Parties to a Crime

            1.  Principal - One who commits a crime

            2.  Accomplice - Helps a person who commits a crime.

            3.  Accessory before the Fact- One who helps but isn't actually at the crime scene.

            4.  Accessory after the Fact - One who helps a person escape after a crime.

F.  Crimes of Omissions--In this case a person becomes guilty of a crime because he fails to act.

            1.  Fail to pay taxes

            2.  Physically able to perform

 

III. Preliminary Crimes--Crimes which occur prior to the actual violation.

      A.  Introduction – it can be a crime to prepare for the act

B.  Solicitation- A crime to solicit (ash, urge, advise etc.) another person to commit a crime.

      C.  Attempt- Simply making an attempt

            1.  Must have intent

            2.  Have to take steps

            3.  Grey Areas

                  a. Attempt vs. preparation

                  b. Shooting example

      D.  Conspiracy- A agreement to commit a crime- a preventative measure

            1.  Freedom of speech

            2.  Freedom of assembly or association

            3.  Overt act requirement - An act which can be cited.

 

 

 

 

 

IV. Crimes Against the Person

A.  Introduction--Crimes such as homicide, assault, battery and rape are serious crimes which may receive a harsh sentence

B.  Homicide--A killing of one human by another, is the most serious of all crimes

1.  Non criminal homicide--When a killing is deemed justified because the killer was faultless

                  a. Soldier

                  b. Executioner

                  c. Police officer

                  d. Self defense

            2.  Criminal Homicide -- Murder which is done with malice - having intent

                  a. First Degree - Premeditated, deliberate, and done with malice

b. Second Degree - This murder is deliberate and done with malice but not premeditated

c. Felony Murder - Is a killing which takes place during certain felonies such as arson, rape, robbery, burglary

d. Voluntary Manslaughter - An intentional killing committed under circumstances that mitigate (lessen) but not justify.

                                                            --loss of control--

                  e. Involuntary Manslaughter - Unintentional killing – reckless behavior

      C.  Negligent Homicide -- Death through criminal negligence.

                                                Ex.  --Careless driving—

      D.  Suicide and Euthanasia

            1.  Suicide -- The taking of ones own life

a. Punished ad a felony burial in unmarked grave and forfeit of   belongings

                  b. Attempted Suicide--Rarely enforced

2.  Euthanasia (Mercy Killing)--Act of putting to death those who are terminally ill.

                  a. Values and morals

                  b. Illegal in every state and is a homicide

      E.  Assault and Battery

1.  Assault -- Attempt or threat to carry out a physical attack upon another person.

                  a. The threatened person must be in danger

                  b. There must not be intent

            2.  Battery -- Unlawful, un-consented to physical contact

                  a. Injury not necessary

                  b. Intent to do bodily harm

            3.  Degrees of Assault and Battery

a. Aggravated - Assault with intent to murder, rob, rape or do bodily harm. (with deadly weapon)

                  b. Assault with a deadly weapon

                  c. Handguns

     

 

 

 

      E.  Rape (sexual assault) (both partners)

            1.  Forcible Rape -- Sexual intercourse with out partners consent

2.  Statutory Rape -- Sexual intercourse with a partner who has not yet reach age of consent

3.  Rape........... sexual intercourse without consent

            4.  Consent -- Force or threats, unconscious, drugs

            5.  Prostitution -- They can be raped

            6.  Date rape –

 

V.  Crimes against Property

A.  Arson--Willful and malicious burning of another persons property defraud an insurance comp.

B.  Vandalism--Malicious mischief willful destruction or causing damage to property can be a felony or misdemeanor

C.  Larceny--Unlawful taking and carrying away of property with intent to steal it. 

            1.  Grand- <$100 and felony / Petty- >$100 and misdemeanor

            2.  Lost property- Wallet

            3.  Shoplifting and concealment

D.  Embezzlement--Unlawful taking of property by someone to who it was entrusted.  --Bank teller--

      E.  Robbery--Taking property by force (immediate possession)

            1.  Robbery is almost always a felony

            2.  Pickpocket is larceny

            3.  Armed Robbery

F.  Extortion--Known as "Black Male" use of threats to obtain the property of other.   --Future injury--

G.  Burglary--Unauthorized entry into any structure with intent to commit a crime

H.  Forgery--Altering a written document with the intent to defraud. (signing without permission) Uttering-- offering someone document known to be fake

 I.  Receiving Stolen Property--Receiving or buying property which is know or suspected to have been stolen

            1.  Greater $100 --Felony

            2.  At least $100--Misdemeanor

J.  Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle--When a person takes, operates, a removes without owners consent   --Occupants—

K.  Computer Crime – any violation of criminal law involving computer technology.

      1.  Fraud

      2. Copyright

      3. Pornography

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI. Controversial Crimes--Are crimes against society-covering issues of   personal conduct, public health, and social welfare- sometimes referred to as victimless crimes.       

A.  Sex Offenses - (Not rape molestation) -Crimes against public morality or decency.

            1.  Bigamy--Marrying a person while still married to someone else

                  a. Basic unit is the family

                  b. Felony

            2.  Adultery--Sexual act with another person other than your spouse

                  a. Grounds for divorce

                  b. A crime in many states

                  c. Law is never enforced

3.  Homosexuality--being sexually and emotionally oriented toward the same sex

                  a. Is it a condition or a crime

b. Most states distinguish as obscene and indecent and therefore a crime.

            4.  Prostitution--The performance of sexual act for money

                  a. Illegal, except in Nevada

                  b. Consenting individuals

VII. Defenses -- Prosecutor must establish a case, the defendant is not required to present a defense, and the government must prove its cases.

A.  No Crime Has Been Committed --criminal shows no crime was committed or no criminal intent

      B.  Defendant did not Commit the Crime -- In other words there was an alibi (DNA)

      C.  Defendant Committed a Crime but Justified

            1.  Self Defense or Property

                  a. Self defense when attacked

                  b. Defense of another person

                  c. Reasonable force

            2.  Duress and Necessity -- Violating criminal law to avoid greater harm

a. Duress -- An act excused by showing, the accused was not acting of his /her free will.

                  b. Necessity -- Defendant act because there is no alternative

      D.  Defendant Committed by not Criminally Responsible

1.  Infancy – Children usually under 7 are considered unable to commit a crime, not tried but turned over to juvenile court

            2.  Intoxication – not usually a defense and intent is a factor

            3.  Insanity or substantial capacity

                  a. Factors

                        1. Did not know what they were doing

                        2. Do not know the difference between right and wrong

                        3. Appreciate the nature of the act

                        4. Ability to conform their conduct to the law

                  b. Mental state during the trial

                        1.  Competent to stand trial

                        2.  Sane at the time of the criminal act

                        3.  Defendant is sane after the trial

                  c. Verdicts – Guilty, innocent, not guilty by reason of insanity, or guilty but mentally ill