CRL - Criminal Law (Lesson)

Introduction

Criminal law refers to laws, statutes, and rules that define acts and conduct as crimes, and establishes punishments for each type of crime. Criminal law is defined through local, state, and federal law. It governs the arrest, detention, charging, and prosecution of accused offenders, and sets specific punishments for the offenses.

In this lesson, we will take a look at defining a crime, the elements of a crime, and different types of crimes against people and property.

Criminal Acts

A crime is any act or omission that violates a law. Criminal acts in the United States are defined in written statutes. These statutes vary from state to state. A criminal act has two elements. In order for a person to be found guilty of a crime, the prosecution must prove the two elements exist in a specific situation. Below is a description of those two elements:

(1) That the act occurred

• It is deliberate and voluntary, not the result of a mistake
• An act is reckless when the perpetrator knows it carries an uncalled-for risk for harm to others and consciously disregards that risk

(2) That the act was purposeful, or that the accused had a conscious intent to act

• Required state of mind
• Intent must take place before the act itself
• Sometimes, as a result of distress or emotional rage, the intent and act occur simultaneously

Review the presentation below for a look at some of the different types of crimes against people and property:

Let's Review!

Take a moment to participate in the following activity to practice your understanding of the topics in this module.  Reach out to your instructor if you have any questions.

Final Thoughts

A crime is an act against the public good. Crimes are defined through local, state, and federal statutes. Punishments for crimes are also defined through those specific jurisdictions.

A crime has two elements – an act and an intent – both of which must be proved in order to convict someone of a crime.

In this lesson, we reviewed a number of crimes against people and property. In the upcoming lessons, we will look at crimes that are more specific to businesses.

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