Broad Concepts to know for the Third Exam Crim Law Spring 2025

1.Know how conspiracy works; how to join and how to withdraw. Know the effects of a proper withdrawal and how it affects criminal liability.

2.Know about the rule of consistency as it relates to conspiracy and Wharton’s rule.

3. Causation is important. Know the importance of the “but for” test. Understand what a intervening causes and a superseding causes are and how they may affect liability

4. Understand the causation concepts used in felony-murder rule cases.

5. Criminal intent is important here. Understand general intent, specific intent, and knowledge as mens rea concepts and how they affect criminal liability. Knowledge is a mens rea for passing bad checks and for receiving and concealing stolen property or for possessing a firearm illegally. Check out transferred intent concepts.

6. Criminal negligence can be used in some crimes as a substitute for a mens rea. Like involuntary manslaughter.

7. All attempts at crime require proof of a specific intent to do that crime. Make sure if an attempt type crime shows up on the exam that you properly consider a specific intent.

8. Some crimes do not require a mens rea. Speeding, selling impure food, and driving overweight motor vehicles or having an expired plate or inspection sticker.

9. Juvenile courts do not have to give children all constitutional rights. They do get a right to counsel and due process. Read McKiever v. Pennsylvania if you have not done so. No right to a jury trial for juveniles.