Criminal Law and Procedure for the Paralegal: A Systems Approach (West Legal Studies)

657 Pages·2005·4.48 MB·English

by  James W. H. (James W. H. McCord J.D.) McCord

C L
RIMINAL AW
P
AND ROCEDURE
P
FOR THE ARALEGAL
A S A
YSTEMS PPROACH
Third Edition
WEST LEGAL STUDIES
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C L
RIMINAL AW
P
AND ROCEDURE
P
FOR THE ARALEGAL
A S A
YSTEMS PPROACH
Third Edition
James W. H. McCord, J. D.
Eastern Kentucky University
Sandra L. McCord, M. A.
Australia Canada Mexico Singapore Spain United Kingdom United States
WEST LEGAL STUDIES
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE
ASYSTEMS APPROACH 3E
James W. H. McCord and Sandra L. McCord
Career EEducation SStrategic BBusiness UUnit:
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Dawn Gerrain Wendy A. Troeger Wendy Mapstone
Director oof EEditorial: Production EEditor: Marketing SSpecialist:
Sherry Gomoll Betty L. Dickson Gerard McAvey
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COPYRIGHT © 2006, 2001, 1995 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.No part of Library of Congress Cataloging-in-
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Thomson Corporation. Thomson, the Star may be reproduced or used in any form or McCord, James W.H.
Logo, and Delmar Learning are trade- by any means—graphic, electronic, or Criminal law and procedure for the
marks used herein under license. mechanical, including photocopying, paralegal: a systems approach/James W.H.
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Printed in the United States information storage and retrieval sys- p. cm.—(West Legal studies)
2 3 4 5 XXX 09 08 07 06 05 tems—without written permission of the ISBN-13 978-1-4018-6564-1
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For more information contact Delmar 1. Criminal law—United States.
Learning, 5 Maxwell Drive, P.O. Box For permission to use material from this 2. Criminal procedure—United States.
8007, Clifton Park, New York 12065. text or product, contact us by 3. Legal assistants—United States—
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http://www.westlegalstudies.com www.thomsonrights.com KF9219.3.M33 2005
345.73—dc22
2005010804
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To our son
Quinten James McCord
with love
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C
ONTENTS
TABLE OF EXHIBITS xix
TABLE OF CASES xxi
PREFACE xxxv
1 FOUNDATIONS OF CRIMINAL LAW 3
I. INTRODUCTION 4
II. OVERVIEW OF THE LEGALSYSTEM 4
A. Rule of Law 4
B. The Constitution 4
C. Separation of Powers 5
D. Police Power 5
III. CRIMINALLAW 6
A. Purpose of Criminal Law 6
B. Sources of Criminal Law 7
C. Model Penal Code 8
D. Administrative Crime 8
E. International Crime 8
F. Change in the Criminal Law 9
G. Divisions of Criminal Law 9
H. Due Process 9
I. Classification of Crimes 9
IV. PUNISHMENT AND CRIMINALLAW 10
A. Introduction 10
B. Retribution 10
C. Deterrence 11
D. Rehabilitation 12
V. CRITICALREASON AND CRIMINALLAW 13
VI. THE DILEMMAOF CRIME IN AFREE SOCIETY 15
VII. CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES 15
A. Current State of Crime 15
B. Reasons for Drop in Crime 16
C. Special Concerns: Present and Future 16
vii
viii ■ Contents
VIII. PRACTICALCONSIDERATIONS FOR THE STUDYOF CRIMINAL
LAW 17
A. The Significance of Studying Criminal Law 17
B. About This Text: Applying State Law 18
C. The System Folder 18
IX. SAMPLE CASES 18
A. Case I 19
B. Case II 19
C. Case III 19
D. Case IV 20
E. Case V 20
F. Case VI 21
X. CONCLUSION 21
2 ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
AND THE ROLE OF THE PARALEGAL 27
I. INTRODUCTION 28
II. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES 28
III. PROSECUTORIALAGENCIES 29
IV. DEFENSE BAR 30
V. CORRECTIONS AGENCIES 30
VI. CRIMINALCOURT SYSTEM 31
A. Court Structure 31
B. Jurisdiction 31
C. Criminal Procedure 32
VII. PROFESSIONALETHICS IN CRIMINALLAW PRACTICE 36
A. Introduction 36
B. Adversary System 36
C. Role of the Prosecutor 37
D. Role of the Defense Attorney 38
E. Role of the Judge 40
VIII. ROLE OF THE PARALEGAL 41
A. Paralegal Tasks in Criminal Law Offices 41
B. Paralegal Ethical Responsibilities 42
C. Other Professional Considerations 45
D. Professional Development 45
IX. CONCLUSION 46
3 COMPONENTS OF A CRIME 51
I. INTRODUCTION 52
II. HARM OR LIKELYHARM: THE CLASSIFICATION
OF CRIMES 52
III. ACTUS REUS 53
A. Introduction 53
B. Voluntary and Involuntary Acts 53
C. Omissions 54
D. Possession 55
E. Status 56
IV. MENS REA 56
A. Introduction 56
B. Model Penal Code Definitions 57
Contents ■ ix
C. General, Specific, and Transferred Intent 59
D. Concurrence 59
E. Strict Liability 59
V. CAUSATION 61
A. Introduction 61
B. Foreseeable Consequences 62
C. Supervening or Superseding Causes 62
VI. COMPLICITY 63
A. Introduction 63
B. Parties to Crimes 63
C. Actus Reus in Complicity 64
D. Mens Rea in Complicity 65
E. Abandonment 66
VII. VICARIOUS AND CORPORATE LIABILITY 67
A. Introduction 67
B. Vicarious Liability 67
C. Corporate Liability 68
VIII. CONCLUSION 71
4 CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS AND CRIMES
AGAINST HABITATION 77
I. INTRODUCTION 78
A. Elements of Crimes 78
B. Lesser Included Offense 78
II. CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS 79
A. Introduction 79
B. Homicide 80
C. Assault and Battery 93
D. Civil Rights Violations 104
E. Sexual Battery 105
F. Criminal Abuse 116
G. Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, and Custodial Interference 119
III. CRIMES AGAINST HABITATION 123
A. Introduction 123
B. Arson 123
C. Vandalism 125
D. Burglary 125
IV. CONCLUSION 128
5 CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY, PUBLIC ORDER
AND SAFETY, PUBLIC MORALS, AND JUSTICE
AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 137
I. INTRODUCTION 138
II. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY 138
A. Introduction 138
B. Larceny 138
C. Embezzlement 141
D. False Pretenses or Fraud 142
E. Bad Checks 144
F. Receiving Stolen Property 144