Concept of Crime and Its Essential Elements
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https://doi.org/10.59022/ijlp.488Keywords:
Actus Reus, Men’s Rea, Causation, Criminal Liability, Bram Principle, Lawful Justification, Comparative Criminal LawAbstract
Crime is the foundation of every criminal justice system. Yet, its definition and essential elements remain inconsistently applied across legal systems. This article examines the concept of crime and its essential elements, including actus reus, men’s rea, causation, harm, and lawful justification. It traces the historical development of crime's legal definition and compares its application across common law and civil law traditions. The study identifies significant inconsistencies in how these elements are defined and applied across jurisdictions. These inconsistencies undermine the fairness and uniformity of criminal liability. The findings reveal that no unified framework currently exists for analyzing all essential elements together. This article fills that gap by providing a comprehensive and systematic analysis. The study concludes that a more consistent and principled application of crime elements is essential for achieving justice across different legal systems globally.
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