Foundations of Criminal Law

📋 Course Outline

1. Actus Reus
2. Mens Rea
3. Concurrence
4. Causation
5. Crime Classification
6. Inchoate Crimes
7. Strict Liability Crimes
8. Defenses Types
9. Justification Defenses
10. Excuse Defenses
11. Insanity Defense
12. Self-Defense

📖 1. Actus Reus

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Actus Reus: The physical act or unlawful omission that constitutes a crime; the external component of criminal liability.
• Voluntary Act: An act performed consciously and intentionally; involuntary movements (e.g., reflexes, spasms) do not satisfy actus reus.
• Omission: A failure to act when there is a legal duty to do so, which can result in criminal liability if certain conditions are met.
• Causation: The link between the defendant's act and the resulting harm; must be established for liability.
• Result Crime: A crime where the actus reus results in a specific outcome (e.g., homicide).
• State of Being: Sometimes, mere possession or being in a certain state can constitute actus reus (e.g., possession of illegal drugs).

📝 Essential Points