Crimes

Actus reus

A guilty (prohibited) act; the wrongful act that, combined with a guilty mental state (mens rea), constitutes the elements necessary for criminal liability.

Arson

The intentional burning of a building; in many states arson statutes have been extended to cover the destruction of any real or personal property by fire or explosion.

Beyond a reasonable doubt

The standard used to determine the guilt or innocence of a person criminally charged; the degree of proof required for conviction in a criminal case.

Burglary

The unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a felony.

Computer crime

Any wrongful act that is directed against computers and computer parts, or that involves the use of a computer as a tool to commit a crime.

Crime

A wrong against society set forth in a statute and punishable by a fine or imprisonment, or in some instances death.

Double jeopardy

A situation occurring when a person is tried twice for the same criminal offense; prohibited by the Fifth Amendment.

Duress

Unlawful pressure exerted on a person that induces the person to commit an act that they otherwise would not have committed; can be used as a defense to a criminal charge.

Embezzlement

The fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom that property has been entrusted.

Entrapment

A defense in which the defendant claims that a law enforcement agent induced them to commit a crime that they would otherwise not have committed.

Exclusionary rule

A rule that prohibits the introduction, at trial, of evidence obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights, as well as evidence derived from illegally obtained evidence.

Felony

A crime punishable by death or by imprisonment in a federal or state penitentiary for more than one year.

Forgery

The fraudulent making or altering of any writing (including electronic records) in a way that changes the legal rights and liabilities of another.

Insider trading

The purchase or sale of securities on the basis of material, nonpublic information about the issuing corporation.

Larceny

The wrongful taking and carrying away of another person's personal property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

Mens rea

Mental state, or intent; a wrongful mental state that, combined with a guilty act (actus reus), is required to establish criminal liability.

Misdemeanor

A crime punishable by a fine or by confinement for up to one year in jail.

Money laundering

Engaging in a financial transaction to conceal the identity, source, or destination of illegally gained funds.

Petty offense

In some states, a minor violation, such as a traffic or building-code violation, that is considered less serious than a misdemeanor.

Plea bargaining

The process by which a criminal defendant and the prosecutor negotiate a settlement of the case, subject to court approval, often resulting in a lesser charge or sentence.

Probable cause

A reasonable belief, based on facts and circumstances, that a person should be arrested or that a search should be conducted.

Robbery

The taking of cash, personal property, or other goods of value from another person by force or by intimidation.

Search warrant

An order granted by a public authority, such as a judge, that authorizes law enforcement personnel to search a particular area.

Self-defense

The legally recognized privilege to protect oneself or one's property against injury by another; the force used must be reasonable relative to the perceived harm.

Self-incrimination

Furnishing testimony or other evidence that could be used against oneself in a criminal proceeding; protected against by the Fifth Amendment.

White-collar crime

Nonviolent crime committed by individuals or organizations, usually to obtain a personal or business advantage, such as embezzlement, insider trading, and money laundering.