• LAW (punishability)

    I. Criminality (Definition; “Offense”) (pt.1, arts.1-20)

Does the behavior constitute criminal conduct? (was a (penal) law violated?)

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)

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))

• 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))