actus reus n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
... reus n. A legal term denoting a criminal act in contradistinction to a criminal intent and knowledge of the wrongness of the criminal act, which in turn is called mens rea . For a defendant to be convicted of a crime, both an actus reus and a mens rea must normally be proved. [From Latin actus act + reus ...
actus reus Quick reference
A Dictionary of Law Enforcement (2 ed.)
... reus [Latin: a guilty act] The prohibited conduct or behaviour that the law seeks to prevent. Although it is commonly referred to as the ‘guilty act’, this is rather simplistic, as the actus reus includes all the aspects of the crime except the accused's mental state ( see mens rea ). In most cases the actus reus will simply be an act (e.g. appropriation of property is the act of theft) accompanied by specified circumstances (e.g. that the property belongs to another). Sometimes, however, the actus reus may be an omission to act (e.g. failure to...
actus reus Quick reference
A Dictionary of Law (10 ed.)
... reus [Latin: a guilty act] The prohibited conduct or behaviour that the law seeks to prevent. Although commonly referred to as the “guilty act” this is rather simplistic, as the actus reus includes all the aspects of the crime except the accused’s mental state ( see mens rea ). In most cases the actus reus will simply be an act (e.g. appropriation of property is the act of theft) accompanied by specified circumstances (e.g. that the property belongs to another). Sometimes, however, the actus reus may be an omission to act (e.g. failure to...
Actus reus Quick reference
Guide to Latin in International Law (2 ed.)
...Actus reus . ak´tūsrā´ūs . âk´tus rā´us. n . “Guilty act.” The physical conduct element of a criminal offense. Most crimes have both a conduct component ( actus reus ) and a mental or intent component ( mens rea ). E.g ., “Members of the joint criminal enterprise used or cooperated with others, including those under their command or effective control, to facilitate or carry out the actus reus of crimes against the Serbian civilian population and civilian property.” Prosecutor v. Markač , ICTY Case No. IT-06-90-T, Indictment of Mar. 12, 2008,¶ 16. ...
Actus Reus Reference library
The Oxford Companion to American Law
... Reus . Every crime has two parts: (1) actus reus , or an objective part, the criminal act; and (2) mens rea , or a subjective part, the criminal defendant's culpable state of mind. The criminal act (or omission if there is a duty to act) must be voluntary, overt conduct (not merely thoughts) that exactly fits the crime's definition and causes harmful results. See also Criminal Law Principles ; Mens Rea David S....
actus reus Reference library
Australian Law Dictionary (3 ed.)
...offence must be proved beyond reasonable doubt for the purposes of conviction . The type of conduct that constitutes the actus reus of an offence varies, but it is usually a positive act (e.g. the actus reus of larceny is the taking and carrying away of property belonging to another without his or her consent: Croton v R (1967) 47 CLR 326; Ilich v R (1986) 162 CLR 110). It can also comprise a series of acts. When the actus reus consists of an act, it must be voluntary : a willed or conscious act ( R v Scott [1967] VR 276). Defendants who argue...
actus reus
actus reus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea
state of affairs offences
ulterior intent
physical element
act
automatism
penetration
states of mind
