Understanding Crimes Against the Person: A Comprehensive Overview
Crimes against the person, including homicide, kidnapping, assault, battery, and sexual assault, are among the most serious offenses. These crimes are categorized by their levels of seriousness and intent, such as criminal and non-criminal homicide. Murder, differentiated into first and second-degree, felony murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and negligent homicide, is examined with explanations of each classification. The consequences of criminal homicide, particularly first-degree murder, are explored, emphasizing the severity of intentional killings.
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Crimes Crimes Against the Against the Person Person Chapter 9 Street Law Text pp. 106-114
Crimes against the person include homicide, kidnapping, assault, battery, and sexual assault. These are considered some of the most serious crimes in our society thus there are protections not only for the victim but also the accused. Each crime against the person is usually broken down into levels of seriousness.
Homicide Homicide is the killing of one human being by another. It is the most serious of all crimes, but can be classified as criminal or non-criminal. Criminal Homicide is committed with intent, and possibly a plan. As well as committing a reckless or negligent act that takes a life. Non-Criminal Homicide is excusable or justifiable .
Criminal Homicide Murder is the most serious type of criminal homicide. Murder is killing that is done with Malice- the intent to kill or seriously harm a person, or acting in an extremely reckless manner, that shows no regard for human life. Most states have laws that classify murder according to the killer s state of mind or the circumstances surrounding the crime. First Degree Murder- killing that was Premeditated- thought about beforehand [planned], deliberate, and done with malice. Also known as Capital Murder, because the death penalty is an option in many states. Felony Murder- killing that takes place during the commission of certain felonies. Examples would be arson, rape, robbery, or burglary. There is no need to prove intent to kill. Most state consider Felony Murder First Degree Murder.
Criminal Homicide Cont. Second Degree Murder- killing that is done with malice, but without premeditation or deliberation. Intent to kill did not exist until the moment of the murder, spontaneous killings that are unplanned. Voluntary Manslaughter- killing that would otherwise be seen as murder but that occurs after the victim has done something to the killer that would cause a reasonable person to lose self control or act rashly. The killing must occur before a cooling off period. Involuntary Manslaughter- killing in which there is no intent to kill at all. Usually from reckless conduct. Negligent Homicide- causing death through criminal negligence. Negligence- failure to exercise a reasonable or ordinary amount of care in a situation that causes harm. Vehicular Homicide.
Murder of the first degree is the most serious crime someone can commit in Pennsylvania because the punishment for a first degree conviction is either Death or mandatory life in prison without parole. First degree Murder is defined as a criminal homicide when the killing of another human being is intentional. It is intentional if the killing is by means of poison, or by lying in wait, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing. If someone planned to kill another and does so, then it is premeditated. Murder of the second degree is a criminal homicide when committed while the defendant was engaged as a principal or accomplice in the perpetration of a felony. This is known as the Felony-Murder rule, and a conviction is punished by mandatory life in prison without parole. If someone plans to rob a bank or a convenience store and a killing is committed in the course of the robbery, then it is second degree murder. Murder of the third degree is defined as all other kinds of murder, and is punishable as a felony of the first degree carrying a penalty of ten to twenty years in prison. If someone shoots another, killing that person, and it wasn't planned or intended or committed in the course of a felony, then it is a third degree murder.
Voluntary manslaughter is defined as an intentional or knowing killing of an individual without lawful justification, if at the time of the killing the defendant is acting under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation by the individual killed or another whom the actor tries to kill but negligently or accidently causes the death of the individual killed. Voluntary manslaughter is a felony of the first degree, punishable by ten to twenty years in prison. If someone shoots another because the person so enraged the shooter by his actions, and kills him, it is voluntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter is defined as when a person, as the result of doing of an unlawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, or the doing of a lawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, causes the death of another. Involutary manslaughter is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by two and one-half to five years in prison. Driving a car well in excess of the speed limit and causing the death of another is a lawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, and is involuntary manslaughter.
You Be the Judge p. 109 Read each of the following accounts carefully. For each one, determine who can be charged with the crime of homicide and the degree of homicide for which he or she should be charged. Give reasons for your answers. a. troubles. As he is driving to her home to carry out the murder, he accidentally hits a jogger who darted out into the road from behind a tree. Stopping immediately, Walt rushes to help the jogger, who is already dead. Assume that Walt was driving at a safe speed and that the collision with the jogger was unavoidable. Walt decides to shoot his ex-girlfriend Yolanda, whom he blames for all his b. Belva is cheated when she buys a car from Fast Eddie s Car Mart. She attempts to return the car, but Eddie just laughs and tells her to go away. Every time Belva has to make a repair on the car, she gets angry. Finally, she decides to wreck Eddie s car to get even with him. Following him home from work one evening, Belva tries to ram his car, hoping to bend the axle or frame. Instead of bending the frame, the collision smashes Eddie s gas tank, causes an explosion, and kills him. c. Alison and Brad need money to pay their bills and decide to rob a bank. Brad drives the getaway car. Alison goes into the bank and pulls out her gun, announcing, This is a stickup. Don t move! The bank guard, Gordon, shoots at Alison but misses, killing Dawn, a bank customer.
Non-Criminal Homicide Killing that is justifiable or excusable, the killer is deemed faultless. Examples: Killing an enemy soldier in wartime Execution of condemned criminal Killing of a criminal by a police officer in the line of duty Self Defense or Defense of another person
Suicide Suicide- the deliberate taking of one s own life. Was once considered a crime [think about that]. Today most states make attempted suicide a crime, so that they can try to help the individual. In the United States a suicide takes place, on average, every 15 minutes. Even though many people will have the thought enter their minds sometime in life, very few will actually carry out this act. There are many agencies, hotlines, and counselors that are available to help those in emotional and or physical need. Always remember suicide is almost always a very selfish act . It usually only leaves great despair behind, and sometimes great loathing of the individual that commits it.
Problem 9.1 The Case of the Dying Cancer Patient a. Was Wilfred s request related to suicide? Explain. b. If you were the district attorney in the state where Martha lives, would you file criminal charges against her? Explain. c. If manslaughter charges were filed and you were on the jury, would you vote to convict Martha? Give your reasons. If Martha were convicted, what sentence should she receive? Why? d. If the bottle of pills had been given to Wilfred by a physician instead of by his wife, would your answers have been different? Give your reasons. e. If you were a state legislator, would you be in favor of or against a law allowing assisted suicide? Explain.
Kidnapping Kidnapping/ Unlawful Imprisonment/ Abduction- taking away a person against their will. An age old crime that originally referred to stealing children, obviously today it refers to anyone taken against their will. Pennsylvania kidnapping laws
Assault and Battery Assault- any attempt or threat to carry out a physical attack upon another person Battery- any unlawful physical contact inflicted by one person upon another person without consent Usually these words are used interchangeably today. There are different classes or degrees of assault and battery just like in homicides. Stalking- when a person repeatedly follows or harasses another person and makes threats, causing the victim to fear death or bodily injury. Cyberstalking- harassment using electronic communications. Bullying- peers or acquaintances intimidate, or put a person in fear of injury. One study showed that 60% of indentified bullies in grades 6-9 had been convicted of at least one crime by age 24. Bullying is seen by many as a gateway crime.
Sexual Assault and Rape Sexual Assault- unwelcome sexual contact or sexual verbal threats against another. Both Men and Women are capable of committing and being victims of sexual assault. Rape- sexual intercourse without consent. Statutory Rape- intercourse with someone under the legal age of consent. Criminal Sexual Assault- simply sexual assault Acquaintance Rape [date rape]- sexual assault by someone known to the victim usually not a separate crime from rape [sexual assault]
Sexual assault is a crime in Pennsylvania and is defined as a person engaging in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with another person without their consent. The defendant may have committed statutory sexual assault if the victim was under 16 years of age
Pennsylvania also has a separate charge titled "indecent assault." Indecent assault is similar to sexual assault in some ways. It involves indecent contact with the victim, including the victim's contact with the defendant's seminal fluid, urine, or feces for the purpose of arousing sexual desire in either the victim or defendant, and it is done without the victim's consent, forcibly or under threat of force, or performed under some severe incapacity of the victim (i.e. unconsciousness, mental incapacity, intoxication of the victim, youth of the victim).
Rape carries a severe penalty including a fine of up to $25,000, up to 20 years in prison, or both. Sexual assault is considered a second degree felony in Pennsylvania. This is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Discretionary fines may also be imposed by the court depending on the nature of the crime and its severity. In the event of insanity, the judge may recommend counseling or psychiatric treatment as necessary. In the event that the crime is charged as an indecent assault, then the charge will be either a first or second degree misdemeanor depending on the specific nature of the offense. This can be punishable by up to five years in prison. However, if it is the defendant's second offense or there has been a repeated course of this type of conduct, or if the assault was committed by touching the victim's sexual parts with those of the defendant, then it can be a third degree felony. This is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Problem 9.2 For each case below, assume that the two people have sexual intercourse. Assume that the police find out about the sexual activity in each instance. How should each situation be handled? a. goes to her bedroom, awakens her, pulls out a knife, and threatens to stab her unless she has sex with him. She tells him that she does not want to have sex. But then she says, If you are going to do this, you d better use a condom. He agrees. At midnight, a man breaks into the home of a woman he does not know. He b. A famous boxer serves as a judge at a beauty contest. After the contest, he invites an 18 year old contestant to his hotel room. She meets him there. Later, she says he forced her to have sex. c. 14, go out on a car. The legal age of consent in this state is 16. The next day, he brags about this at school, and she goes to the police. There is some evidence that he is part of an informal organization of high school boys who are involved in a competition to have sex with as many girls as possible. A male high school student, aged 17, and a female high school student, aged date. After attending a party, they agree to have intercourse in his d. Leo and Nina are college juniors who have had three dates. On these dates they have never engaged in any sexual activity beyond a brief good night kiss. On their fourth date, he invites her to an all night drinking party at his fraternity house. She drinks too much, goes up to his room alone around 1:00 am, and falls asleep. In the morning, she wakes up to discover that she and Leo had intercourse during the night.
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