Understanding the Criminal Justice System CJUS 101 Chapter 13: Inmate Rights.
Criminal justice 101 ch 3
Transcript of Criminal justice 101 ch 3
Chapter 3Criminal Law
Criminal LawRule of Law:
-behavior set
-rules/procedures-define/prohibit-certain behaviors as illegal -prescribe punishments-equally applied
Criminal Law3 Categories:
1.Civil
2.Criminal
3.Administrative
Criminal LawHow are laws made?
Balance of Power:
-legislative
-executive
-judicial
Criminal LawWhy pass laws?-forbid conduct harm to society
-control criminals
-protect non-criminal behavior
-fair warning
-serious v. minor crimes
Criminal LawMala in se: harmful to society
Mala phohibita: law/not harmful/inherently evil
Criminal LawSources of laws: State/Federal levels
Constitution:-beginning-amendments-criminal codes
Criminal LawCriminal Codes:-legislators pass-executive sign
Common law: (state level)-passed down from England-written laws simple-judicial interpretation
Criminal LawTwo types?
Felony
Misdemeanors
Criminal LawState Laws:
-autonomous
-preserve rights of US Constitution
-can add rights
Limits of Criminal Law1. Principle of legality-no law/no crime2. Ex post facto-after the fact3. Due process-substantive-limits power of govt-procedural-established procedures/equally4. Void for vagueness-clear
Limits to Criminal Law5. Right to privacy-personal privacy
6. Void for over breadth-go too far
7. Cruel/Unusual-punishment fit crime
Elements of a crimeDO NOT WRITE DOWN!!!!
(1) A person is guilty of murder in the first degree when:
(a) With a premeditated intent to cause the death of another person, he or she causes the death of such person or of a third person; or
(b) Under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life, he or she engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to any person, and thereby causes the death of a person; or
(c) He or she commits or attempts to commit the crime of either (1) robbery in the first or second degree, (2) rape in the first or second degree, (3) burglary in the first degree, (4) arson in the first or second degree, or (5) kidnapping in the first or second degree, and in the course of or in furtherance of such crime or in immediate flight therefrom, he or she, or another participant, causes the death of a person other than one of the participants: Except that in any prosecution under this subdivision (1)(c) in which the defendant was not the only participant in the underlying crime, if established by the defendant by a preponderance of the evidence, it is a defense that the defendant:
(i) Did not commit the homicidal act or in any way solicit, request, command, importune, cause, or aid the commission thereof; and
(ii) Was not armed with a deadly weapon, or any instrument, article, or substance readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury; and
(iii) Had no reasonable grounds to believe that any other participant was armed with such a weapon, instrument, article, or substance; and
(iv) Had no reasonable grounds to believe that any other participant intended to engage in conduct likely to result in death or serious physical injury.
(2) Murder in the first degree is a class A felony.
WA RCWClass A Felony: no less than 20
Class b Felony: No less than 10
Class C Felony: No less than 5
Gross Misdemeanor: No more than 364 days (jail)
Misdemeanor: No more than 90 days (jail)
Criminal LawActus Reas:-criminal act
Mens Rea:-criminal thought
Must have both to be criminal violation
Criminal LawIntent:-Purposely/intentionally
-Knowingly
-Recklessly
-Negligently
Criminal LawIncomplete crimes: (inchoate)
-beyond thought-crime not completed
Attempted crimes:-closest to completion
-increased punishment
Criminal DefensesAlibi-somewhere else
Consent of victim-limited
Entrapment-police actions caused
Criminal DefensesImmunity-Diplomatic
Duress-no free will
Ignorance of law-rarely works
Criminal DefensesNecessity-lesser of two evils
Self Defense-affirmative defense
Youth-< 7
Criminal DefensesInsanity-not responsible at time of crime
Crimes against PersonsMurder-1st degree: premeditated/deliberate-2nd degree: no premeditation/but intent
Manslaughter: no intent-voluntary
-involuntary-vehicular
Crimes against PersonsRape/Sexual assault:-consent
Kidnapping-moving by force
Robbery-force/threat
Larceny-no force
Battery/assault-physical contact
Crimes against PropertyBurglary-property of another
-commit a crime
Arson-burning/attempt