Criminal Law and Cyber Crimes

An act can have both civil and criminal consequences. (O.J. Simpson trials)

Essentials of Criminal Liability

To be convicted of a crime, a person must:

• Commit a guilty act (actus reus).
• Have the guilty mind (mens rea) during commission of the guilty act.

Corporate Criminal Liability

A corporation is creature of state statute. A corporate entity may be convicted of a crime. Punishment would be fines and/or denial of certain legal privileges.

Liability of Corporate Entity

Corporations may be convicted of criminal activity if:

• Crime is within agent/employee’s scope of employment
• Corporation fails to perform a legally required duty
• Crime authorized or requested by corporate principal/officer.

Liability of Corporate Officers

Corporate officers and directors are personally liable for crimes they commit.
Also, they may be criminally liable for acts of their under the “Responsible Corporate

Types of Crimes

Violent Crimes.
• Murder, sexual assault, rape, robbery.
Property Crimes.
• Burglary, larceny, theft of trade secrets, theft of services, arson, receipt of stolen goods, forgery.
“White Collar” Crimes
• Crimes occurring in the business context using non-violent means to obtain personal or business advantage.
  • Embezzlement.
  • Mail or Wire Fraud (federal).
  • Bribery.
  • Bankruptcy Fraud (federal).
  • Insider trading (federal).
  • Theft of Trade Secrets (federal).
Organized Crime
• Operates illegitimately by providing illegal goods and services:
  • Money Laundering.
  • RICO (criminal and civil liability).

Defenses to Criminal Liability

Involuntary Intoxication: is a defense if person was incapable of understanding act.
Insanity: defendant lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of act or to conform act to law.

• Mistake.
• Duress.
• Consent.

Self-Defense of People and Property: use deadly force if reasonable belief of immanent death or serious injury; cannot use deadly force to protect property alone.
Necessity: criminal act necessary to prevent greater harm.
Entrapment: prevents government from encouraging crimes. Key issue: was the defendant pre disposed to commit the act?

Criminal Procedures

U.S. Constitution provides specific safeguards for those accused of crimes at federal and state level.
Criminal procedures are designed to protect against the arbitrary use of power by the government.

Cyber Crime

Computer crime: any act directed against computers or that uses computers as an instrumentality of a crime.

• Cyber Theft
• Financial Crimes.
• Identity Theft.
• Cyber Stalking.
• Hacking and Cyber Terrorism.