Unit 8: Law, Courts, and Procedure

The Legal Definition of Crime

Each crime as described in the statutes has elements that must be fulfilled for a crime to be committed. Suffice it to say that the elements are the conditions that must be fulfilled in order for the crime to be committed.

In addition to the elements of the offense, you must prove that the person actually committed the guilty act and had the criminal intent to commit the act. Actus Reus: The guilty act, means that the act must occur (or not occur when required,) and that the act must be voluntary. This means that the perpetrator must have control over his/her actions. Mens Rea: meaning the criminal intent of which there are three types: General intent, which is the intent to commit the crime itself; Specific intent, the intent to accomplish a specific purpose; and finally, Transferred intent, for example, when a person intends to kill one person, but accidentally kills someone else by mistake.

There are a few exceptions to Mens Rea, including strict liability crimes, (public welfare crimes, such as health and safety regulations), and some traffic laws. For example, you do not have to intend to speed in order to be found guilty of speeding