The+Role+and+Structure+of+Criminal+Laws

Objectives:

 * describe the role and purpose of criminal laws
 * identify and analyze the elements of criminal law
 * apply elements of criminal law to different scenarios

Do Now:
What is homicide? Where would we find the law of homicide written down or codified?

Lesson:
In order to charge Sam Freeman or Lee Parker and make an effective case for a specific plea, you need to know how to analyze a criminal law.

1. Look at Handout 14. Explain the three kinds of elements that can be found in criminal laws. Criminal Act (//actus reus//) State of mind (//mens rea//) Attendant circumstances

2. Using the "Applying Facts to the Law" handout, read #1 on California Penal Code Section 484(a), including the scenario.
 * What words in the law describe actions//?//
 * What words in the law describe state of mind or intent?
 * Apply the elements of criminal law regarding theft to the scenario. Did Johanna commit theft?

Take the rest of the examples of criminal laws in the handout: 1) Break down the description of the criminal law into its different elements 2) Label each element as an act, state of mind, or attendant circumstance 3) Determine whether the scenario meets the required elements of the law.

Discuss with a partner:
 * Why do you think these particular criminal laws exist?
 * Do you think the laws reflect pressing problems or issues in today's society?
 * When do you think the laws were established? Do you think that criminal laws should be continually updated? Why or why not?

Homework:
Pick 1-2 of the criminal laws we looked at in class and write three additional scenarios:
 * One in which all the elements of criminal law are satisfied
 * One in which the //actus reus// is missing
 * One in which the //mens rea// is missing