MARYLAND STATE LAW QUESTIONS WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
Probable Cause - ✔✔The minimum amount of evidence needed to arrest
Proof beyond reasonable doubt - ✔✔Minimum amount of evidence needed to convict
Reasonable Suspicious - ✔✔facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable police
officer based on training, knowledge, and experience to believe a crime is being committed or
was committed
No - ✔✔Do you need a warrant if you have probably cause someone committed a felony?
Sources of criminal law - ✔✔Case law: laws based on decided cases, Terry v Ohio
Statutory Law: laws drafted by legislature
Common Law: English law carry overs
The two highest courts in Maryland - ✔✔The court of appeals and court of special appeals
Actus Reus - ✔✔The actual criminal act or omission of a required act
Mens Rhea - ✔✔the mental state of a criminal mind
What is a crime? - ✔✔Prohibited conduct
Who determines what is a crime? - ✔✔General Assembly in Maryland
,The elements of a crime - ✔✔actus reus and mens rea
What is Actus Reus - ✔✔The act or the omission of an act
ex Breaking and entering is the actus reus of burglary
Hitting someone is the actus reus of 2nd deg assualt
What is Mens Rea - ✔✔state of mind or intent
Examples
Mens rea of 1st degree burglary is the intent to commit a crime of violence or commit a crime
of theft
General Intent - ✔✔The intent to do what the law prohibits
It is not neccessary for the state to prove the defendant intended the consequence
Ex
4th deg burglary - general intent to break and enter
Specific Intent - ✔✔The intent to accomplish the precise act the law prohibits
State must prove the defendant intended for the consequences of his or her actions to occur
Example
1st deg burglary - specific intent to commit theft or crime of violence
Who issues search warrants, and who usually does arrest warrants - ✔✔Judges issue search
warrants, Court commissioners issue mostly arrest warrants
, Common Law Crimes - ✔✔originated in case law of England and American colonies prior to
Revolution
Unless specifically repelled or changed by state, common law crimes still exist
Max penalty - nothing that is cruel or unusual
Statutory Crime Law - ✔✔body of law created by acts of the legislature
Max Penalty is set by legislature
Examples: sex offender registry, car jacking
Misdemeanor - ✔✔offenses generally punishable by fine, imprisonment in the local
detention center up to 18 months, or statutorily defined as a misdemeanor
Always always charged in district courts
Statue of limitations: One year and one day to charge
Felony - ✔✔a crime of more serious or grave nature
Generally punishable by imprisonment in division of corrections or statutorily defined as a
felony
Most felonies are charged by way of indictment
Statue of limitations: None in Maryland
Inchoate Crimes - ✔✔"Incomplete crimes"
There is full preparation but crime does not finish or missing an element
CORRECT ANSWERS
Probable Cause - ✔✔The minimum amount of evidence needed to arrest
Proof beyond reasonable doubt - ✔✔Minimum amount of evidence needed to convict
Reasonable Suspicious - ✔✔facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable police
officer based on training, knowledge, and experience to believe a crime is being committed or
was committed
No - ✔✔Do you need a warrant if you have probably cause someone committed a felony?
Sources of criminal law - ✔✔Case law: laws based on decided cases, Terry v Ohio
Statutory Law: laws drafted by legislature
Common Law: English law carry overs
The two highest courts in Maryland - ✔✔The court of appeals and court of special appeals
Actus Reus - ✔✔The actual criminal act or omission of a required act
Mens Rhea - ✔✔the mental state of a criminal mind
What is a crime? - ✔✔Prohibited conduct
Who determines what is a crime? - ✔✔General Assembly in Maryland
,The elements of a crime - ✔✔actus reus and mens rea
What is Actus Reus - ✔✔The act or the omission of an act
ex Breaking and entering is the actus reus of burglary
Hitting someone is the actus reus of 2nd deg assualt
What is Mens Rea - ✔✔state of mind or intent
Examples
Mens rea of 1st degree burglary is the intent to commit a crime of violence or commit a crime
of theft
General Intent - ✔✔The intent to do what the law prohibits
It is not neccessary for the state to prove the defendant intended the consequence
Ex
4th deg burglary - general intent to break and enter
Specific Intent - ✔✔The intent to accomplish the precise act the law prohibits
State must prove the defendant intended for the consequences of his or her actions to occur
Example
1st deg burglary - specific intent to commit theft or crime of violence
Who issues search warrants, and who usually does arrest warrants - ✔✔Judges issue search
warrants, Court commissioners issue mostly arrest warrants
, Common Law Crimes - ✔✔originated in case law of England and American colonies prior to
Revolution
Unless specifically repelled or changed by state, common law crimes still exist
Max penalty - nothing that is cruel or unusual
Statutory Crime Law - ✔✔body of law created by acts of the legislature
Max Penalty is set by legislature
Examples: sex offender registry, car jacking
Misdemeanor - ✔✔offenses generally punishable by fine, imprisonment in the local
detention center up to 18 months, or statutorily defined as a misdemeanor
Always always charged in district courts
Statue of limitations: One year and one day to charge
Felony - ✔✔a crime of more serious or grave nature
Generally punishable by imprisonment in division of corrections or statutorily defined as a
felony
Most felonies are charged by way of indictment
Statue of limitations: None in Maryland
Inchoate Crimes - ✔✔"Incomplete crimes"
There is full preparation but crime does not finish or missing an element
