What constitutes a crime?

Link to this answer

CloseClose

Link to this answer

Share this credible answer with others. Simply paste this code into your blog or Web page:

<a href="http://qanda.encyclopedia.com/question/constitutes-crime-84335.html" >What constitutes a crime?</a>
E-mail this answer Link to this answer

Except as otherwise provided by statute, to constitute a crime an overt act (actus reus) must be accompanied by a criminal intent (mens rea) or by such negligence as is regarded by law as equivalent to a criminal intent.

Answer verified with
Get more facts and information about criminal law . Or, view the full encyclopedia entry from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.

Similar questions: What is an actus reus? What is mens rea? What is criminal intent? What is required to be charged with a crime? [ Hide these questions ]

Related research articles

PRIESTS NOT SOMEHOW ABOVE CRIMINAL LAWS THE U.S. CARDINALS' STATEMENT ON... Newspaper article from: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI) ...of children "is rightly considered a crime by society and is an appalling sin in...to deal with priests who commit those crimes and sins. What had been pitched earlier...warrants. What is "rightly considered as a crime by society" should also be prosecuted as a crime by that same society.
What constitutes a sex crime in these enlightened times?(outlawing of... Magazine article from: National Review * What constitutes a sex crime in these enlightened times? Modern liberal dogma asserts that for a sex crime to take place, one of the parties must be unwilling, underage, or too feebleminded to give rational consent. Fair enough; but what...
Canon to the ordinary. (debate over what constitutes a hate crime)(Column) Magazine article from: The Nation ...agree that there is such a thing as a hate crime. Meanwhile, on the other side of the...has been argued that laws punishing hate crimes punish people for their thoughts. The...with oil and water. The water is the crime. The hate is the oil. The hate, supposedly...one's criminal conduct. Punish the ...
Double jeopardy? Sex offenders.(a ruling that the Washington State practice of... Magazine article from: The Economist (US) ...trial and barring two prison terms for one crime. Washington moved aggressively against...the present climate, harshness towards crime is the greatest virtue and recidivism (especially in sex crimes, where it is common) is seen as intolerable...and simply lengthening sentences for sex crimes to as ...
WE WILL GET A CRIME BILL THE ISSUE ENOUGH COMPROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE... Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY) ...they did something to curb crime. Unfortunately, crime will not much be curbed by this bill. It constitutes a huge package of ``anti-crime measures,'' to be sure...As it will apply to only crimes committed in violation of federal...
See all results at HighBeam

HighBeam gives you access to newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles plus press releases, facts, information, and biographies from thousands of sources.