🧑🏻‍💼United States Law and Legal Analysis Unit 4 – Criminal Law & Procedure

Key Concepts in Criminal Law

• Focuses on defining, preventing, and punishing criminal conduct as defined by law
• Aims to maintain social order, protect public safety, and hold offenders accountable for their actions
• Requires the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction
• Distinguishes between actus reus (guilty act) and mens rea (guilty mind) when determining criminal liability
• Recognizes different levels of criminal intent, such as specific intent, general intent, and strict liability
• Considers the severity of the offense and the offender's criminal history during sentencing
• Balances the rights of the accused with the interests of society and the need for public safety
• Evolves over time in response to changing social norms, values, and technological advancements

Elements of a Crime

• Actus reus refers to the voluntary, physical act or omission that constitutes the criminal offense
• Mens rea represents the mental state or intent required for a particular crime
• Concurrence requires that the actus reus and mens rea occur simultaneously
• Causation establishes a link between the defendant's actions and the resulting harm or consequence
• Harm refers to the injury or damage caused by the criminal act, which may be physical, psychological, or financial
• Attendant circumstances are specific factors that must be present for an act to be considered a crime (age of the victim, location of the offense)
• Attempt crimes involve taking steps towards committing a crime without completing it
• Solicitation and conspiracy crimes involve planning or encouraging others to commit a crime

Types of Criminal Offenses

• Felonies are serious crimes punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or death (murder, rape, robbery)
• Misdemeanors are less serious crimes punishable by imprisonment for one year or less and/or fines (petty theft, simple assault)
• Infractions are minor offenses typically punishable by fines or community service (traffic violations, littering)
• Violent crimes involve the use or threat of force against a person (assault, battery, domestic violence)
• Property crimes involve the theft, damage, or destruction of another person's property (burglary, arson, vandalism)
• White-collar crimes are non-violent offenses committed for financial gain (fraud, embezzlement, insider trading)
• Cybercrime involves the use of computers and the internet to commit crimes (hacking, identity theft, online harassment)
• Victimless crimes are offenses that do not directly harm others but are still prohibited by law (drug possession, prostitution)

Constitutional Protections in Criminal Cases

• Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires probable cause for warrants
  • Exclusionary rule prohibits the use of evidence obtained through illegal searches or seizures
  • Plain view doctrine allows the seizure of evidence in plain sight during a lawful search
• Fifth Amendment provides the right against self-incrimination and double jeopardy
  • Miranda warnings inform suspects of their rights to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning
  • Double jeopardy clause prohibits being tried twice for the same offense
• Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, and the assistance of counsel
  • Confrontation clause ensures the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses
  • Compulsory process clause allows defendants to subpoena witnesses and evidence in their favor
• Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail or fines
  • Proportionality principle requires that the punishment fit the crime
  • Evolving standards of decency consider society's changing views on what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment

Stages of Criminal Procedure

• Investigation involves gathering evidence, identifying suspects, and determining if a crime has been committed
• Arrest occurs when a person is taken into custody based on probable cause that they committed a crime
• Booking involves recording the suspect's personal information, taking fingerprints and photographs, and checking for outstanding warrants
• Arraignment is the first court appearance where the defendant is informed of the charges and enters a plea (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
• Preliminary hearing determines if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial (felony cases)
• Grand jury hearing involves a group of citizens deciding whether there is enough evidence to indict the defendant (felony cases)
• Trial is the formal legal proceeding where guilt or innocence is determined by a judge or jury
• Sentencing occurs after a guilty verdict or plea, where the judge imposes a punishment based on the crime and other factors

Defenses in Criminal Law

• Affirmative defenses require the defendant to prove the defense by a preponderance of the evidence
  • Self-defense justifies the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or others from imminent harm
  • Insanity defense argues that the defendant lacked the mental capacity to understand the wrongfulness of their actions
  • Duress defense claims that the defendant committed the crime under the threat of imminent harm or death
• Negating defenses challenge an element of the crime, such as intent or causation
  • Alibi defense asserts that the defendant was elsewhere when the crime occurred
  • Mistake of fact defense argues that the defendant had an honest and reasonable belief in a fact that negates an element of the crime
• Justification defenses argue that the defendant's actions were legally justified under the circumstances (necessity, defense of property)
• Excuse defenses claim that the defendant should not be held morally responsible for their actions (age, mental incapacity)

Sentencing and Punishment

• Determinate sentencing involves a fixed term of imprisonment set by statute or sentencing guidelines
• Indeterminate sentencing allows the judge to set a range of imprisonment, with the actual release date determined by a parole board
• Mandatory minimum sentences require a minimum term of imprisonment for certain offenses, limiting judicial discretion
• Sentencing guidelines provide a range of sentences based on the offense and the offender's criminal history
• Aggravating factors can increase the severity of the sentence (use of a weapon, hate crime, vulnerable victim)
• Mitigating factors can decrease the severity of the sentence (lack of prior criminal record, cooperation with authorities, remorse)
• Alternative sentencing options include probation, community service, fines, and rehabilitation programs
• Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is reserved for the most serious offenses and is subject to extensive legal challenges and debate

Current Issues and Debates

• Racial disparities in the criminal justice system, including higher rates of arrest, conviction, and incarceration for racial and ethnic minorities
• Overcrowding in prisons and jails, leading to concerns about inhumane conditions and the need for sentencing reform
• Debate over the effectiveness and fairness of mandatory minimum sentences, particularly for drug offenses
• Controversy surrounding the use of plea bargaining, which can lead to innocent people pleading guilty to avoid the risk of a harsher sentence at trial
• Impact of new technologies, such as DNA evidence and surveillance cameras, on criminal investigations and privacy rights
• Balancing the rights of the accused with the needs of victims and the community, particularly in cases of sexual assault and domestic violence
• Addressing the mental health needs of individuals in the criminal justice system and providing adequate resources for treatment and rehabilitation
• Reforming the bail system to reduce the disproportionate impact on low-income defendants and address issues of pretrial detention