Maryland State Law Questions with Answers
(100% Correct Answers)
Probable Cause
Ans: The minimum amount of evidence needed to arrest
Proof beyond reasonable doubt
Ans: Minimum amount of evidence needed to convict
Reasonable Suspicious
Ans: 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
Ans: Do you need a warrant if you have probably cause someone committed a felony?
Sources of criminal law
Ans: 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
Ans: The court of appeals and court of special appeals
Actus Reus
Ans: The actual criminal act or omission of a required act
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,Mens Rhea
Ans: the mental state of a criminal mind
What is a crime?
Ans: Prohibited conduct
Who determines what is a crime?
Ans: General Assembly in Maryland
The elements of a crime
Ans: actus reus and mens rea
What is Actus Reus
Ans: 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
Ans: 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
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, Ans: 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
Ans: 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
Ans: Judges issue search warrants, Court commissioners issue mostly arrest warrants
Common Law Crimes
Ans: 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
Ans: body of law created by acts of the legislature
Max Penalty is set by legislature
Examples: sex offender registry, car jacking
© 2025 All rights reserved
(100% Correct Answers)
Probable Cause
Ans: The minimum amount of evidence needed to arrest
Proof beyond reasonable doubt
Ans: Minimum amount of evidence needed to convict
Reasonable Suspicious
Ans: 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
Ans: Do you need a warrant if you have probably cause someone committed a felony?
Sources of criminal law
Ans: 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
Ans: The court of appeals and court of special appeals
Actus Reus
Ans: The actual criminal act or omission of a required act
© 2025 All rights reserved
,Mens Rhea
Ans: the mental state of a criminal mind
What is a crime?
Ans: Prohibited conduct
Who determines what is a crime?
Ans: General Assembly in Maryland
The elements of a crime
Ans: actus reus and mens rea
What is Actus Reus
Ans: 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
Ans: 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
© 2025 All rights reserved
, Ans: 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
Ans: 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
Ans: Judges issue search warrants, Court commissioners issue mostly arrest warrants
Common Law Crimes
Ans: 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
Ans: body of law created by acts of the legislature
Max Penalty is set by legislature
Examples: sex offender registry, car jacking
© 2025 All rights reserved
