http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/structureny.htmPENAL LAW: A Web Analytic Structure Three-Level Analysis of Criminal Liability (New York Penal Law)
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LAW (punishability) I. Criminality (Definition; “Offense”) (pt.1, arts.1-20) Does the behavior constitute criminal conduct? (was
a (penal) law violated?)[/list] A. in general: Does the penal code apply (jurisdiction)? (Crim.Proc.L.
art.20) B. in particular: Does the behavior meet the definition of a particular criminal offense defined in the penal code? (pt.1,
arts.1-20) (see principles of
legislativity & prospectivity) 1. What are the elements of the offense as defined? (a) Conduct (
§15.00(4))
- minimum requirement for all offenses (act requirement,
§15.10)
(b) Circumstances
- may be required (see
specificity principle)
- e.g.: nature of offender (public servant,
§195.00) or of victim (rent regulated tenant,
§241.05), legality (
§135.00), time (
§130.75), place (
§245.00), consent (
§165.05), justification (
§125.40)
(c) Result
- not required (e.g.,
§190.23); only in result-offenses (e.g., §§
120.00,
195.08)
(d) Mode of Culpability (w/ respect to each element)
- not required (strict liability,
§15.10)
- rules of interpretation (§§
5.00,
15.10,
15.15) (see principle of
lenity)
- e.g.: intent(ion), knowledge, recklessness, criminal negligence
(
§15.05), wilfulness (
not defined) (see
comparative chart)2. Does the behavior satisfy each element of the offense? (a) Conduct
- act (§§
15.00(1),
15.10)
- voluntariness (§§
15.00(2),
15.10)
- omission (§§
15.00(3),
15.10)
- imputation (
art.20)
- instruments (
§20.05(1))
- complicity (§§
20.00-.15)
- corporate actors (
§20.20)
(b) Circumstances
(c) Result
- causation (
not codified)
- but for
- proximate
(d) Mode of Culpability (w/ respect to each element)
- mistake re: presence of offense elements (
§15.20(1))
- intoxication (
§15.25)
- diminished capacity (
not codified)
II. Illegality (Justification; “Defenses” pt. 1) (pt.1, art.35) Is the criminal conduct unlawful generally speaking? (was
the law violated?)
Is the facially criminal conduct justifiable? A. general justification (choice of evils; necessity) (
§35.05(2)) B. specific justification 1. execution of public duty (
§35.05(1))
2. self-defense (
§35.15)
3. defense of another (
§35.15)
4. defense of property (§§
35.20-.25)
5. use of force in law enforcement (
§35.30)
6. supervisory position (parent, teacher, warden, conductor, physician) (
§35.10)
7. (justificatory) consent (not codified as a general defense)
8. (justificatory) compliance with military orders (not codified as a general defense)C. mistake re: presence of justification elements (
not separately codified; see
§15.20(1)(c))
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MERCY (punishment) III. Inculpation (Excuse; “Defenses” pt. 2) (pt.1, art.30, 40) Can the accused be held culpable for the facially criminal and unlawful conduct? A. Was the accused incapable of culpable conduct (incapacity)? 1. insanity (
§40.15)
- (exculpatory) intoxication (not available; but see I. (
intoxication))
2. infancy (
§30.00)B. Can the accused be excused (impossibility; avoidability)? 1. duress (
§40.00)
- personal (
§40.00)
- circumstantial (not available, but see II. (
choice of evils; necessity))
2. provocation (extreme emotional disturbance) (§§
125.20(2),
125.25(1)(a),
125.27(2)(a))
3. (exculpatory) compliance with military orders (not codified as general defense)
4. entrapment (
§40.05)
5. renunciation (
§40.10) (not codified as general defense in
MPC)
6. mistakes
- unreasonable (reckless, negligent), yet exculpatory, mistakes re: conditions of justification (
not available)
- (exculpatory) ignorance/mistake of law (
§15.20(2))
