Basic principles of criminal law – for most serious criminal offences 2 elements must be present
1. Actus reus: the guilty act. The act/omission that the law seeks to prevent. When the crime is a
result crime (e.g. murder > dead pension) rather than a conduct crime (e.g. fraud), causation
must be shown.
- Conduct crime – actus reus is constituted by the behavior
- Result crime – actus reus requires a particular consequence or a “result”
- Omission – omission to act when a statue or common law imposes a positive duty to act
2. Mens rea: the guilty mind. 3 states of mind in English Law, which separately or together can
constitute the necessary mens era for a criminal offense.
Intention – the test is subjective, did this particular defendant intend to commit
the crime at the time, intent may be direct or oblique
- Direct intent means done on purpose, the consequence was intended
- Oblique intent means the consequences are foreseen by the defendant as
virtually certain.
Recklessness – taking an unreasonable, unjustifiable risk; the test is subjective
Negligence – falling below the standard of the reasonable person. Gross
negligence is usually required for criminal law. Test is objective. The important
thing is that the reasonable person realized the risk and take the steps to avoid
it.
Types of mens rea in USA
1- Intention
2- Knowledge
3- Recklessness
4- Negligence
Crimes of basic intent – mens rea can be intention or recklessness
Crimes for specific intent – doing it with a specific intent or objective. Only direct or oblique intent will
suffice as mens era.
Strict liability crimes – crimes where no mens rea needs to be proved. These are statutory offenses,
normally a low level of criminality. These crimes often involve vicariously liability. This concept is more
restricted in criminal law then tort law.
UK – indictable offense (serious crime) and summary offenses (less serious crime)
USA – felony (serious crime) and misdemeanor (less serious crime)
Principal: the main perpetrator of the offense. More than one principal referred as “joint principal”.
A principal might use an “innocent angel” to carry out the “actus reus”.
Accessory: person who assists the principal after the crime.
, 4 types of secondary participation:
1. Aiding
2. Abetting
3. Counselling
4. Procuring
UK Law:
Vicarious liability – no mens rea is required
Directly – where the offense does require mens rea, to hold the company liable there must be an
individual who can be identified for legal purposes as the company. Only a key person can be equated
with the company.
Doctrine of identification – general principle in English Law for holding a company liable for crimes
requiring mens rea.
US Law:
In the federal law, corporate criminal liability is based upon the “doctrine of respondeat superior”. If
the agent carried out the actus reus with the required mens rea, his mens rea can be ascribed to the
company regardless of his rank, if he acted within the scope of his employment.
Model Penal Code (MPC) – requires that to hold company accountable, the crimes should have been
carried by the senior officers of the company.
Use of aggregation test in federal case law – no single individual has mens rea, but it can be put
together collectively (“doctrine of collective knowledge”)
Inchoate offense – covers the preparatory stage of other criminal offenses
3 inchoate offense
1. Incitement
2. Conspiracy
3. Attempt
Crimes of violence – two limits of corporate criminal liability
1. The offense must be punishable by a fine
2. Some crimes were seen as too human
The agent of the company and the company itself may both be held liable for the offense in this case.
Homicide: unlawful killing of someone. Major categories are murder, manslaughter, and causing death
by dangerous driving
Murder (UK)
Actus reus is the unlawful killing of a human under Queen’s peace.
Mens rea is “malice aforethought”
1. Actus reus: the guilty act. The act/omission that the law seeks to prevent. When the crime is a
result crime (e.g. murder > dead pension) rather than a conduct crime (e.g. fraud), causation
must be shown.
- Conduct crime – actus reus is constituted by the behavior
- Result crime – actus reus requires a particular consequence or a “result”
- Omission – omission to act when a statue or common law imposes a positive duty to act
2. Mens rea: the guilty mind. 3 states of mind in English Law, which separately or together can
constitute the necessary mens era for a criminal offense.
Intention – the test is subjective, did this particular defendant intend to commit
the crime at the time, intent may be direct or oblique
- Direct intent means done on purpose, the consequence was intended
- Oblique intent means the consequences are foreseen by the defendant as
virtually certain.
Recklessness – taking an unreasonable, unjustifiable risk; the test is subjective
Negligence – falling below the standard of the reasonable person. Gross
negligence is usually required for criminal law. Test is objective. The important
thing is that the reasonable person realized the risk and take the steps to avoid
it.
Types of mens rea in USA
1- Intention
2- Knowledge
3- Recklessness
4- Negligence
Crimes of basic intent – mens rea can be intention or recklessness
Crimes for specific intent – doing it with a specific intent or objective. Only direct or oblique intent will
suffice as mens era.
Strict liability crimes – crimes where no mens rea needs to be proved. These are statutory offenses,
normally a low level of criminality. These crimes often involve vicariously liability. This concept is more
restricted in criminal law then tort law.
UK – indictable offense (serious crime) and summary offenses (less serious crime)
USA – felony (serious crime) and misdemeanor (less serious crime)
Principal: the main perpetrator of the offense. More than one principal referred as “joint principal”.
A principal might use an “innocent angel” to carry out the “actus reus”.
Accessory: person who assists the principal after the crime.
, 4 types of secondary participation:
1. Aiding
2. Abetting
3. Counselling
4. Procuring
UK Law:
Vicarious liability – no mens rea is required
Directly – where the offense does require mens rea, to hold the company liable there must be an
individual who can be identified for legal purposes as the company. Only a key person can be equated
with the company.
Doctrine of identification – general principle in English Law for holding a company liable for crimes
requiring mens rea.
US Law:
In the federal law, corporate criminal liability is based upon the “doctrine of respondeat superior”. If
the agent carried out the actus reus with the required mens rea, his mens rea can be ascribed to the
company regardless of his rank, if he acted within the scope of his employment.
Model Penal Code (MPC) – requires that to hold company accountable, the crimes should have been
carried by the senior officers of the company.
Use of aggregation test in federal case law – no single individual has mens rea, but it can be put
together collectively (“doctrine of collective knowledge”)
Inchoate offense – covers the preparatory stage of other criminal offenses
3 inchoate offense
1. Incitement
2. Conspiracy
3. Attempt
Crimes of violence – two limits of corporate criminal liability
1. The offense must be punishable by a fine
2. Some crimes were seen as too human
The agent of the company and the company itself may both be held liable for the offense in this case.
Homicide: unlawful killing of someone. Major categories are murder, manslaughter, and causing death
by dangerous driving
Murder (UK)
Actus reus is the unlawful killing of a human under Queen’s peace.
Mens rea is “malice aforethought”
