What are the two elements that are required for a person to be held liable for a crime?

Criminal liability is generally made up of two elements: (1) the guilty act or omission known as the "actus reus", and (2) the prohibited state of mind or guilty mind known as the "mens rea". The mental element generally requires the proof of an intention on the part of the person who commits the criminal act .

Most criminal offences require the co-existence of the above two elements (i.e. actus reus and mens rea) at the same time. The concept is derived from the Latin expression “ actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea ”, which means that "the act will not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty". For example, a person is not guilty of murder if he caused the death of another person by accidentally knocking him down with his car. The mens rea for the offence of murder requires an intention to kill another person or cause him very serious bodily injury, which is lacking in this example. However, this person may have committed the offence of dangerous driving causing death because the mens rea requires in such an offence is an intention to drive the car, which is present in the example. Whether this person is guilty of that offence depends on whether he committed the actus reus , i.e. whether he drove his car in a dangerous manner as defined in the legislation (see question 4 under Case Illustration).

In some special cases, known as "strict liability offences", there may not be any prohibited state of mind necessary and only a guilty act is sufficient for criminal liability. An example can be found in sections 8 and 10 of the Water Pollution Control Ordinance. Under these sections, any person commits an offence if he discharges any polluting matter into the waters of Hong Kong in a water control zone. There is no need to prove that the offender knew the existence of pollutants in the materials he discharged or that he intended to pollute the water.

It should also be noted that under the Hong Kong legal system, everyone is presumed innocent until the person has been proven guilty. Hence a person will only be treated as guilty of an offence if he or she is convicted by the court. Upon conviction, that person will be sentenced (i.e. punished) by the court (see question 2 below).

In the area of criminal law, crimes can be broken down into four basic elements that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

What are the 4 Elements of Crime That Must Be Proven?

The four elements of a crime are:

  1. Criminal act
  2. Criminal intent
  3. A concurrence of the previous two elements
  4. Causation

In order to prosecute, the first three elements of a crime must be present. The last element, causation, is often but not always required. The term “conduct” is also often used in criminal cases to reflect the criminal act and intent elements. According to the Model Penal Code (MPC),“‘conduct’ means an action or omission and its accompanying state of mind.” Below, our experienced criminal defense lawyers explain each element of a crime.

What Is Considered a Criminal Act?

A criminal act occurs when any unlawful act or unlawful omission of an act violates a legal statute. A person’s words can also be considered acts under criminal law. Perjury, verbal threats, conspiracy, and solicitation are just a few examples of verbal acts that can result in criminal charges.

However, a person’s internal thoughts are not considered criminal. Instead, thoughts contribute to the second element: criminal intent. In order to be considered a criminal act, the behavior must be voluntary, meaning the defendant must control the action. If a defendant can prove they acted on reflex, then their actions don’t meet the requirement of voluntariness.

What Is the Definition of Criminal Intent?

In addition to proving a criminal act occurred, prosecutors must also convince the court of what the defendant’s mental state was like at the time of the incident. Under the theory of mens rea, the accused can only be held culpable for the act if prosecutors establish that there is criminal intent. However, how courts interpret the concept of mens rea varies widely. According to a 2016 Supreme Court decision that supported the American Law Institute’s definition of the term in their MPC, a person can be found guilty if they have acted purposely, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently.

It is important to note that Intent and motive are not the same thing. Motive is the reason the defendant commits the criminal ac. Although motive can generate intent, support a defense, and be used to determine sentencing, the motive alone does not meet the requirement for mens rea and is not a substitute for criminal intent.

What Does Concurrence Refer To?

Concurrence refers to the timing of criminal intent and a criminal act. In other words, it means proving that the criminal act and criminal intent exist at the same moment. If the prosecution fails to obtain evidence that criminal intent preceded or occurred at the same time as the criminal act, then the burden of proof falls short.

Concurrence is a rare issue in criminal proceedings because the criminal intent often generates the bodily response (criminal act). However, there are rare instances in which the criminal act and intent occur at different times. When this happens, concurrence can’t be established, and the defendant can’t be convicted of a crime.

What Is Causation?

The element of causation is not always present in a criminal case. Causation refers to the relationship between the defendant’s conduct and the final result. The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s actions led to the alleged harm or injury. Because there are a variety of incidents that can occur in which the defendant technically initiates actions that result in harm, it would be unjust for courts to hold the defendant criminally responsible. As a result, causation should not be rigidly determined in every criminal case, and the trier of fact must perform an analysis that promotes fairness.

What Are Attendant Circumstances?

Attendant circumstances are a requirement for some crimes. These are specified factors that prosecutors must prove were present when the crime was committed. This can include the crime’s methodology, location or setting, the victim characteristics, and other factors.

An Award-Winning Criminal Defense Team You Can Rely On

At Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, our team of skilled criminal defense lawyers understand the various intricacies involved with criminal court cases. Our legal team is committed to using our extensive resources and legal insight to represent our clients aggressively and relentlessly. Whether you are being investigated, incarcerated, or charged, our seasoned attorneys possess the vast experience that you need on your side to pursue justice. At our firm, we see it as our job to defend the rights of the accused, so please don’t hesitate to speak to our legal professionals today.

To schedule your free case consultation with Lessem, Newstat & Tooson, LLP, give us a call at (800) 462-7160 or contact our firm online.

What two elements are required for a crime?

It is generally agreed that the essential ingredients of any crime are (1) a voluntary act or omission (actus reus), accompanied by (2) a certain state of mind (mens rea).

What are the two elements of a crime quizlet?

The elements of most crimes will consist of a voluntary act or actus reus, a culpable mental state or mens rea, and concurrence between the voluntary act/ actus reus and the mental state/ mens rea, and a causation fo harm to the victim by the D. A defendant must engage in a voluntary act.

What two elements must exist before a person can be held liable for a crime quizlet?

The commission of a prohibited act is one of the two essential elements required for criminal liability, the other element being the intent to commit the crime.

What are the elements of a crime in South Africa?

The elements of a crime are criminal act, criminal intent, concurrence, causation, harm, and attendant circumstances. Only crimes that specify a bad result have the elements of causation and harm.