Category Archives: Criminal Defense

Two things must be present in order for a crime to be committed: an act (the physical element) and a particular state of mind (the mental element). The act is the body of the crime – the corpus delecti. In … Continue reading →

Just what is it that makes an act a crime? Some acts are crimes because they are inherently evil, such as murder, rape, robbery, or arson. Other acts are crimes not because they are necessarily evil, but because they are … Continue reading →

The mere attempt to commit a crime may also be a crime. An attempt to commit a crime normally involves a specific intent. For instance, attempted murder involves the specific intent to kill. If someone’s intent, however, is only to … Continue reading →

The standard of proof in a criminal case is what is referred to as proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a higher standard than either a preponderance of the evidence or the clear and convincing … Continue reading →

There are several crimes that are classified as crimes against property. Larceny is a property crime that involves the taking and carrying away of the valuable personal property of another with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that … Continue reading →

Murder is the most significant crime against a person. Other crimes against a person are such crimes as battery, assault, mayhem, forcible rape, kidnapping, and robbery. Kidnapping is the unlawful carrying away of a person typically for purposes of obtaining … Continue reading →

The major steps in processing a criminal case are as follows: 1) Investigation of a crime by the police. The purpose of a criminal investigation is to gather evidence to identify a suspect and support an arrest. An investigation may … Continue reading →

You are guilty of solicitation when you ask someone to commit a crime for you, or to help you commit a crime, or when you advise someone on how to commit a crime. The only act required for a crime … Continue reading →