
3. A crime cannot be committed unless some overt act has occurred. An individual cannot be
accused of a crime for merely “thinking” of the criminal act in question. Sometimes the failure to act,
an omission, or the outright refusal to act may be considered criminal. Generally, however, an omission
must be coupled with a legally imposed duty. Many states specifically exclude involuntary movement
4. The four mental states that can be found in the criminal code are purpose or intent, knowledge,
recklessness, and negligence. Purpose or intent means that a person acts with the goal of causing the
result that does, in fact, occur. Knowledge means that a person acted understanding that a particular
5. Motive in criminal law is the wrongdoer’s reason for committing the crime. One common
misconception about criminal law, which is promoted and perpetuated by countless novels, plays,
6. Crimes against the people, most often referred to as felonies, include homicide, assault, battery,
kidnapping, and hate speech. Homicide is any killing of one human by another. Criminal homicide is