Crime

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/crime

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the jurisdictional variation?What constitutes a criminal offense varies significantly between different legal jurisdictions
2. Why do laws say some actions are crimes?Laws decide something is a crime because the lawmakers write it into the law. When the law says it is illegal, that act becomes a crime.
3. How does the law decide if someone did a crime?To say someone did a crime, the court looks for the guilty act (actus reus) and the guilty mind (mens rea). They must show both are true before saying the person is guilty.

Statutory Definition: A definition of a term or concept provided within a specific law or statute.
Actus Reus: The physical act or conduct that constitutes a crime.
Mens Rea: The mental state or intent accompanying the criminal act.