Law Basics · Law
Criminal Law Basics
How the state defines and punishes crimes: actus reus and mens rea, the Model Penal Code's four mental states, felonies vs misdemeanors, homicide grades, defenses, proof beyond a reasonable doubt, key rights (Miranda, Gideon), plea bargaining, and white-collar examples.
Step 1 of 6 · Overview30 min read ·
Key idea
Prereqs: Torts & liability; The Constitution. Next: Employment law; Securities regulation. Sources: Model Penal Code (1962); LawShelf criminal law course; *Miranda v. Arizona* (1966); *Gideon v. Wainwright* (1963).Next: 1. Elements