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Criminal Law
Incur formal and solemn pronouncement of moral condemnation of the community
Principles of Punishment
Accomplish primary goal of protecting society and to achieve all of related goals of theories applicable
A. Bill of Rights
Proportionality
8th amendment: excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment
inflicted.
"punishment should fit the crime"
3 Factor Test
1. Gravity of offense and harshness of penalty
2. Sentences imposed on other criminals in same jurisdiction
3. Sentences imposed for commission of same crime in other jurisdictions
Sentencing
State Law Majority: determinate sentencing (no discretion to corrections officers to reduce sentences based on rehab in
prison)
Federal Law: Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Death penalty does not violate constitution; but death penalty for other than murder usually disproportionate
Legislative Intent
Plain Meaning
Interpreting Statute
1. Statutes should be understandable to reasonable law abiding citizen (cannot be vague)
2. Should not delegate basic policy matters to enforcement officers
3. Judicial interpretation of ambiguous statutes should be biased in favor of accused (Lenity Doctrine)
4. If statutory language is clear then plain meaning governs
5. If common law not defined, then meaning assumed intended
6. Ejusdem generis: general language follows specific terms in statute. Construe more narrow (I.g. dangerous weapons
followed by weapon list. Anything not included is not a dangerous weapon)
7. Expression of one thing is exclusion of another: enumerating specific items; anything legislature did not include was
left out intentionally
8. Congress legislates with domestic concerns in mind
Model Penal Code: does not recognize lenity doctrine. Ambiguity interpreted through purposes of code
Jury Trials: right to jury only applies to non-petty offenses (more than 6 mo)
Few as six (federal govt= 12)
Substantial majority to convict (fed= unanimous)
Jury Nullification: can return acquittal even if believed guilty based on statute immoral, unjust, punished enough, or
misbehavior by prosecutor/officers
Proving Case
Most criminal trials law is not in dispute.
Facts
Raw: who did what to whom, when and why?
Normative: mental state determination
Burdens of Proof
A. Burden of Production: Prosecutor must produce enough evidence that rational trier of fact may determine that
elements of the crime have been proved beyond reasonable doubt.
If fails to satisfy burden of production then defendant entitled to directed verdict
Defendants Burden of Production: sometimes requires defendant advanced notice of defenses: more than a scintilla
of evidence or enough evidence to raise a reasonable doubt on issue of defense claimed.
Defendants Burden of Persuasion: Prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt all affirmative defenses (Massachusetts) If
Defendant meets burden of production jury must permit defense to be evaluated. If not jury should reject defense.
State free to legislate whether burden of proof is on defendant on state for particular facts.
MPC: Except for exceptions listed required standard of proof being preponderance of evidence prosecution must prove
every element of offense beyond reasonable doubt including conduct that negates an excuse. Prosecutor must prove
defenses if defendant meets burden of production.
Challenging Credibility
Credibility Assessment- Attacking Credibility
Remembering: memory of witnesses - ask for precise details
Observing: impeding vision- poor vision
Truth telling: show bias
Communication
Characters poor value in predicting behavior on specific occasion; human tendency to judge based on bad trait.
A. Mental Propensity and other Uses of Character
Using character to establish that someone had particular mental state on particular occasion. (Ronnie has always been
peaceful)
Doctrine of Objective Chances: when accused makes mistake, evidence that he or she has been repeatedly claimed to make
same mistakes in other instances, can be used to prove that accused in fact was not mistaken in case at hand (date rape)
"mistaken consent"
Motive: concerns specific relationship between or among to two or more people that gives a suspect a reason to think or act
in a particular way on particular occasion. Motive proven by specific acts. Motive is usually circumstantial evidence to help
prove existence of element.
Can be explicitly made element of crime (hate crimes)
Habit: habit is a very frequently repeated response to very specific stimulus, response so frequent as to make it a good
predictor of behavior. "always changes blinkers"
Special Rules: Rape Shield: Prohibits defendant to offer character evidence of immoral behavior by victim.
Actus Reus
Voluntary Act Voluntary: any conduct not product of effort or Status: (alcoholic, drug addict)
a. Voluntary Act or omission determination of defendant either conscious or cannot be criminalized
b. That causes social harm habitual. (excluding civil fine or penalty conduct)
Mens Rea
Specific: intent to engage in proscribed conduct Purposefully: conscious purpose of causing Statutory Transferred Intent:
1. Intentionally causes harm. 2. acts with desired result.
knowledge that harm certain to occur Knowingly: aware that result is practically certain
Transferred intent transfers state of mind of to occur. Guilty if finding of willful blindness or
crime. (must be same crime for intent) deliberate ignorance. If defendant is aware of
Exception TI: misidentification may not be high probability of fact but avoids or ignores.
considered. "ostrich instruction"
(solicitation, attempt, conspiracy, first degree Recklessly: awareness that conduct of particular
murder, assault, larceny, robbery, burglary, nature will cause particular result. Substantial and
forgery, false pretenses, embezzlement) unjustifiable risk that constitutes gross deviation
from reasonable standard of care.
Public welfare offenses, statutory rape, selling Discards common law distinction between general
liquor to minors, bigamy. and specific intent.
Limits mens rea to 4 terms
Defenses of Mens Rea Requires application of mens rea to every
material element including affirmative defenses.
Mistake of Fact: honest reasonable belief in
existence of facts should make act lawful No strict liability except offenses as violations
Specific: defense if mistake fact disproves specific All attendant circumstances must also be proved
intent with 4 culpable state of minds.
General: Only reasonable mistake
Mistake of fact and law:
Mistake of law: ignorance law no excuse even if
mistake reasonable. Defense if
a. Knowledge or understanding element of
Exceptions: passive crimes or no notice of crime. crime.
Legal defense if
Natural and Probable Causes: if natural and a. Reliance upon official lawmaker
probable consequences of actions then jury may b. Defense proved by preponderance of
infer differently. evidence.
Causation
Actual Cause: requires government to prove that But For Test exclusive meaning of causation.
but for the actions of defendant the result would Treats proximate cause as issues relating instead
not have happened when it happened. to defendants culpability. Caused result with level
of culpability required.
Proximate Cause: limits actual but for causation to
that directly related to the act. Result too distant or accidental in occurrence to
have just bearing on liability.
F+P= Direct Cause: act direct cause of social harm If result deviates far from foreseeable, then not
and also proximate cause guilty of purp/know.
Obstructed Cause: perpetrator is protected from Purp/Know: causation not established if result
suffering consequences beyond crime he was not intended. Unless
committed. Unless foreseeable.
Transferred intent
Accelerating Result: If merely accelerated death, Injury less than intended
defendant held responsible.
Rec/Neg: causation not establish if result not
within risk actor was or should been aware of.
Homicide
Unlawful killing of human being with malice Victim born alive Some states protect fetus
Aforethought No aforethought requirement/degrees.
2nd
Purposefully, knowing killing not 1st degree or
voluntary manslaughter.
Test
1. Response to provocation
Would reasonable man lose control?
(mere words not enough)
2. Heat of passion
3. Time lapse not enough to cool down
4. Defendant subjectively has not cooled off.
Rape
Sexual intercourse by male with female without Male sex with female not wife
consent
a. Compel force, threaten, bodily injury
1. Forcibly b. Substantially impaired
2. Means of deception c. Unconscious
3. Asleep or unconscious d. Less than 10
4. Non consent (underage, disabled, drugged,
mentally unable) 2nd degree unless- bodily injury or not voluntary
social companion with sexual history.
Statutory Rape: strict Liability
Fraud: fraud in factum: (not consenting to sexual
acts)
Theft
Larceny 1. trespassory taking and 2. carrying away Value is market value.
of 3. personal property 4. of another person 5. Single larceny doctrine: same
intent to steal. bundle or parcel (same larcenous
impulse)
1. Trespassory: wrongful
2. Taking: interference possession rights
3. Carrying away: even one inch Receiving Stolen Property: person
4. Personal property has reasonable cause or should
5. Of another: not true owner just sole have reasonable cause to believe
possession property obtained through theft.
6. Intent to steal (Specific)
Dangerous weapon: represents or
Asportation: take and carry away conduct that person is armed in
manner to lead reasonable person.
Does not require to steal from lawful owner.
Larceny requires permanent deprivation. (if intent Use of Force: if use of force is used
does not exist at time but later decides to keep, to overcome interference of taking
cont trespass doctrine) then armed robbery.
Attempt
1. Specific Intent to commit crime 2. some acts in Substantial step in a course of conduct planned Not all disturbing remarks are
furtherance of that intent. to culminate commission of crime. criminal threats.
Mens Rea Requirement: 1. mental state crime
requires 2. purpose to bring about acts and Same Penalty as crime attempted. Most jurisdictions do not recognize
results that are elements of crime. 3. merely factual impossibility only true legal
knowing of existence of attendant circumstances. impossibility as defense.
Defenses
Negligent crimes are logically impossible. Allows renunciation or abandonment crime as Legislatures can make certain
defense: voluntary renunciation of person's preliminary conduct a crime.
Actus Reus Test criminal purpose.
Preparation is not enough; must be in dangerous
proximity of committing crime.
Defenses
Legal Impossibility Defense: D believes crime but
legally not a crime.
Solicitation
1. Soliciting another to engage in criminal conduct 1. Commands, encourages, requests another to Solicitation Merges into crime of
2. With intent that that person do so engage in specific criminal conduct. attempt and completed offense.
2. Immaterial failure of communication Cannot convict person of both
Party does not need to consent as crime is 3. Renunciation defense: after solicitation solicitation and attempt.
completed as soon as solicitation. persuade other or prevent crime.
Conspiracy
Agreement between 2 or more persons to commit Agrees to engage or aid in conduct that States are split on issue of plurality
a crime. constitutes crime.
Merger Majority Rule: conspiracy
Specific intent crime Requires an Overt Act separate offense than any
Intent to agree inferred by stake in outcome. Any form of behavior that can reasonably be substantive crimes.
interpreted as behavior as agreement.
Conspiracy is separate crime from object crime. (i.g. Abandonment: if accused abandons
conspiracy to rob bank and bank robbery) Unilateral requirement (i.g. undercover officer) agreement and withdraws. Courts
require communication with
Elements Merger: conspiracy may merge. coconspirators or notification of
1. To agree authorities.
2. To commit the object crime No Grading sentences
"wheel conspiracy"
Accomplice Liability
Aiding and abetting; accessory Principal does not have to be convicted for Eliminates distinction between
Not a separate crime and only applies if target accomplice to be held liable. principals and accessories. All are
crime is committed. principals and imposed to same
Accomplice liable even if principal never tries to punishment.
commit crime.
Elements Accessory after the Fact: some states
Defenses
Right to Present- 5th amendment + 6th amendment (due process + right to confront witnesses)
Client Perjury: dissuade client from making false statements, professionally acceptable to notify court of clients intent. Some courts
encourage lawyers to call defendant to witness and have him narrate to avoid lawyer making false statements.
General Defenses
1. Countering/Contesting
a. Failure of proof- Motion for directive verdict/ judgment of acquittal
b. Impeachment
c. Misidentification- DNA evidence
d. Alibi Defense- places defendant at relevant time in a difference place than the scene involved and so removed as to render
impossible for accused to be guilty party.
1. Affirmative (Burden of Proof always on Prosecution in MA)
a. Justified- e.g. self defense
If allowed in evidence, then right to defense/justification claim
b. Excused- insanity, incompetence
1. Cultural/Religious Defenses
2. Limitation on the Right
a. State law- states has right to limit certain rights to defense
b. Speculative/unwarranted
c. Unduly Repetitive
Self Defense
Right to defend oneself against unlawful force Non-deadly force Battered Spouse Syndrome Defense
Person may not use self defense to resist an
1. Honest reasonable fear of personal harm arrest even if arrest in unlawful.
2. Imminent and unlawful
3. Belief force necessary to repel Deadly Force
Majority: objective view Necessary to protect himself against
4. Force proportionate 1. Death
5. Defendant not aggressor 2. Serious bodily injury
6. (some states) defendant must retreat before using 3. Forcible rape
deadly force. 4. Kidnapping
*Cannot be an aggressor
Defendant must prove self defense by
Defense of Habitation
Person may use deadly force to defend home.
Law Enforcement
A. Crime prevention
Majority rule: use deadly force to prevent violent
crime.
B. Arrest: fleeing felon rule separates citizen/officer
Pursue and use deadly force if reasonably believed
felony
Excuse Defenses
Necessity - Choice of Evils Duress
1. Plaintiff faces choice of evils
2. No apparent legal alternative Model Penal Code: no imminence or
3. Imminent harm deadly force required
4. Plaintiff reasonably chooses lesser evil (a crime) Murder not exempted.
5. Plaintiff did not create necessity
Split as to homicide Entrapment: Objective Test
*objective officers nature of police conduct
*Generally Economic Harm is not enough before crime
*State court can place burden of proof on
defendants for affirmative defenses.
Duress
1. Plaintiff coerced to commit crime
2. By unlawful threat of death/grievous injury
3. No fault of plaintiff
Does not excuse murder
*Future harm is not enough
Entrapment
1. Applies only to government agents
2. Subjective (majority)
3. Issue of Selective Prosecution
Insanity
Insanity not constitutional right.
Insanity Tests
a. M'Naughton Rule: distinguish right from wrong
b. MPC Test: lacked capacity to conform conduct
to requirements of law.
c. Irresistable impulse: unable to control actions.
Intoxication
Strict Liability
Criminal Procedure
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
8:12 AM
4th Amendment: Rights of people to be secure in their persons, homes, papers, effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated, and no warrants issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath, describing place, persons to be seized.
Overview
14th amendment fused state/federal constitution law "not deprive any person of life liberty or property without due process of law.
Deny standing
Good faith exceptions
Curtail impact of Miranda and Mapp
View: Warrantless searches and seizures are generally unreasonable barring certain circumstances
When Does 4th amendment apply? Was there a search under the 4th?
" 4th implicated only when government intrudes into an area deemed in one in which citizen may reasonably expect privacy."
Whether private party is covered by 4th is determined by whether he is "acting as an instrument of the state"
1. Does person have reasonable expectation of privacy. 2. would society deem as objectively reasonable? Overturned Olmstead
Trespass Doctrine
No Expectation of Privacy
"open fields do not provide setting for intimate activities that amendment shelters"(Oliver v US)
Business Associates not given same protection of house as overnight guests (Minnesota v Carter)
Curbside Trash (CA v Greenwood)
Justification of Search
A reasonable person conclude that particular individual has committed a crime/or about to, or that specific items related will be
found.
Cannot hold someone without hearing of probable cause (Gerstein and Dunaway)
Terry stop must last no longer than is necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stop.
Although rigid time frame for Terry Stop (US v Sharpe)
Stop cannot go beyond what is needed to find weapons. Must immediately be aware of contraband feel and touch is okay (Minn v
Dickerson)
If nature and detention arise to arrest then probable cause must be shown
Execution of Warrant
Unreasonable to search entire house with arrest warrant, barring exigent circumstances (Chimel v CA)
Police in good faith may get consent by resident with no real authority to allow search (Rodriguez)
Schools
Only reasonable suspicion needed to search at public schools (NJ v TLO)
Test: whether secondary evidence was discovered by exploitation of initial illegality or instead by means sufficiently attenuated to
be purged of the original taint. (Wong Sung)
Factors Helping: Miranda, Free Will, Other intervening factors <Evidence> <Time Lapse)
Standing: person must have had rights violated in order to exclude evidence. (Rakas)
Good Faith Exception: faulty warrants: officers reliance on warrant must be objectively reasonable. (Herring)
Impeachment Exception: evidence unlawfully obtained is admissible when being used to impeach. (Ventris)
Harmless Error: if conviction would have resulted due to overwhelming evidence, verdict not overturned.
5th amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury,
except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall
any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to
be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use, without just compensation.[1]
Voluntariness Standard
Right to remain silent and anything he says may be used against him in court. Right to have attorney present during questioning and
if he cannot afford one, appointed to him.
If individual exercises right to silence or attorney, interrogation must cease and cannot be assumed guilt (Doyle)
Post Miranda if statement is read prosecutor has to meet "heavy burden" that defendant knowingly and intelligently waived right.
Only active in context of custodial interrogation." restrain of freedom like to a formal arrest" would a reasonable person in suspect's
position believed himself to be in custody and deprived of freedom?
Interrogation
Voluntary statements not covered by doctrine
Physical evidence obtained from un-Mirandized voluntary statements is admissible, although the statements, themselves may not
be. (Patane)
Functional equivalent of questioning (reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response) (Innis/Brewer)
Must have essential ingredient of a police dominated atmosphere. (Perkins/Mathiason)
Routine background questions not interrogation (Muniz)
Cannot use condition of termination for public employees as coercion (Garrity)
Evidence derived from statement (physical or testimonial) will be admissible as long as statement was not coerced and involuntary
(Elstad)
Jury Selection cannot discriminate against race or gender without specific reason (Batson/JEB/McCollum)
Massiah Doctrine: Government cannot deliberately elicit incriminating statements after right to counsel has been invoked (Brewer v
Williams)
1. Government deliberately elicited incriminating statements from accused in absence of counsel. And 2. after initiation of
judicial proceedings. (Kirby)
Government must take some deliberate action to elicit a confession. Much lower bar for sixth violation than Miranda.
Waiver
Eyewitness Identification: physical attributes on public display are not protected (facial appearance, hand writing (Anderson) , voice)
(dionisio)
Totality of circumstances
Show-up (no attorney needed) but illegal if
1. Unnecessarily suggestive 2. likely to lead to mistaken identification (Kirby)
Bodily Intrusions
Weigh intrusiveness and risks against governments need for evidence. (Winston v Lee)
Rights of Accused
Double jeopardy bars litigation between the same parties of issues actually determined at a previous trial. (Ashe v Swensen)
Double Jeopardy only attaches after a judgment has been rendered. (Somverville)
If defendant is unruly he can be placed in contempt or thrown out of court (Allen)
Where a constitutional claim is so novel that its legal basis is not reasonably available to counsel, a defendant has cause f or
his failure to raise the claim in accordance with applicable state procedures. (Reed v Ross)
Criminal Trials open to public/media (Richmond Newspapers)
The state courts must instruct juries under due process to find the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt guilty (Victor)
False testimony may be a factor in sentencing. (Grayson)
Evidence
To overturn conviction; a reasonable probability conviction would have been different if material evidence have been disclosed.
(Agurs)
If evidence is destroyed/lost defendant must prove acted on bad faith (Youngblood)
Testimony at suppression hearing may not be admitted against defendant at trial. (Simmons)
Plea Bargaining
If guilty plea is voluntary it is valid (Brady/Alford)
8th amendment
No excessive Bail (Stack v Boyle)