1. 10/22/07 BR- What are the “elements” of a crime?
Today: Helping to Identify the elements of a crime; Actus reus, Mens rea

2. Elements of a Crime
The elements are the conditions that must be present in order for that crime to have been committed
For example; the elements of a cheeseburger are at least 1 cooked ground beef meat patty, covered with some sort of cheese, and placed between 2 slices of bread or bun.
Minus any of these elements means you do not have that thing - i.e. No cheese=no cheeseburger.

3. Elements are broken down into..
There are two things that have to be proven in a court of law before it will convict someone of a crime:the actus reus and the mens rea of an offense as set out in the Criminal code.
Actus reus (prohibited acts) - the guilty act or guilty omission. An act is doing something that you shouldn't and an omission is not doing something that you should have.
Mens rea (criminal intent) - the guilty thought or mind. This is either having the intention to do something like murder or theft, or you can have the mind to be reckless.

4. 3. Causation
There is a link between what a person did and what happened.
4. Concurrence
Actus reus, mens rea, and causation occurred at the same time.

5. Specific forms of mens rea:
General Intent
The accused need not have planned to commit the offence or cause the act. The accused need only commit the wrongful act.
Specific Intent
A criminal offence that was committed with awareness of the act by the accused.
Recklessness
The accused paid no heed or regard to the injurious outcome their actions may have on others.
Willful Blindness
The accused purposely fails to consider the potential of their actions being criminal out of a desire to not know the truth.

6. Elements of Crime
Look at the chart: notice the different elements for crimes.
Are their crimes that have similar elements?
What are material circumstances?

7. EXIT SLIP
1.In your own words describe what is meant by the “elements” of a crime.
2. Describe the difference between mens rea and actus reus