NCJ Number
75357
Date Published
1975
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This instructional package on California legal code provisions applicable to police officers investigating parties to crimes contains an audio cassette, a film strip and a workbook.
Abstract
Although the California Penal Code states that all persons are capable of committing crimes, it qualifies this blanket statement with eight exceptions. Police officers often find that the unity of act and intent required to establish a corpus delicti for any particular crime cannot be established, even though an apparent criminal act has occurred. Exceptions to criminal culpability include (1) juveniles under the age of 14, if they can be proven to have been unaware of the wrongfulness of the act, (2) idiots (I.Q. 0 to 24), (3) insane persons, (4) persons committing acts in ignorance of material facts or as honest mistakes, (5) lack of consciousness of having committed a criminal act, (6) women committing misdemeanors under coercion or command of their lawful husbands, (7) persons committing crimes under the immediate threat of great bodily harm, and persons committing crimes as accidents. The workbook contains supplemental activities and test questions as well as a unit overview. An instructor's answer key is also provided. The materials are designed for individualized instructional use.