The following is a list of important Criminal Law terms (I through M) and their definitions.
Insane Delusion: product of a mental disorder wherein defendant has a false belief in something that would be incredible to others and those beliefs remain persistent despite proof to the contrary.
- product of mental disorder
- false belief in something incredible
- belief remains persistent despite proof to contrary
Intended Results Doctrine: if a person causes events to come about which obtain his or her desired result, then that person’s actions are still the proximate cause of the result even if an intervening act was independent and unforeseeable. This states an exception to the rule of proximate cause.
desired result- still the proximate cause
Involuntary Manslaughter: the unintentional killing of a human being by another human being without malice but under circumstances involving gross negligence.
- unintentional
- killing
- of a human being
- by another human being
- without malice
- BUT with gross negligence
Irresistible Impulse Test: holds that a defendant is entitled to the insanity defense if, because of a mental disorder, he knows that he is doing wrong but cannot control his behavior.
- he knows what he is doing is wrong
- cannot control behavior
- because of mental disorder
Kidnapping: unprivileged movement of a person against his will from one place to another
- unprivileged movement
- of a person
- against his will
- one place to another
Larceny: trespassory taking and carrying away of the personal property of another with intent to permanently deprive the owner thereof.
- trespassory taking
- carrying away personal property of another
- with intent to permanently deprive the owner
Larceny by Trick or Deceit: larceny created through a constructive trespass where consent to take an dcarry the property of another was obtained by fraud.
- constructive trespass
- consent obtained by fraud
Malice Aforethought: exists when the defendant has a man-endangering state of mind as evidenced by one of the following intentions:
- Intent to kill as expressed by the defendant
- Intent to cause someone serious bodily harm as implied by the actions of the defendant
- Wanton and willful disregard of human life as implied by the actions of the defendant
- Intent to resist a lawful arrest in a dangerous manner as implied by the actions of the defendant.
Malum in Se: a wrong in itself, something naturally evil.
- wrong in itself
- naturally evil
Malum Prohibitum: something made wrong by legislation
- made wrong
- by legislation
Manslaughter: unlawful homicide committed without malice aforethought.
- homicide
- without malice aforethought
Mayhem: malicious maiming or disfiguring of another.
- malicious
- maiming or disfiguring
- of another
Mens Rea: guilty mind or guilty intentions
- guilty mind
- guilty intentions
Misdemeanor: Lesser crime with a maximum penalty of incarceration for less than 1 year, or a fine, or both.
- lesser crime
- maximum penalty of:
- Incarceration for less than 1 year;
- or A fine;
- or both.
Misprision of Felony: (common law) the nondisclosure of a known felony of another. (modernly) concealment of known felony of another.
- concealment
- felony of another
Murder: the killing of one human being by another human being with malice aforethought.
- killing
- of one human being
- by another human being
- with malice aforethought