Negligent Rape in Croatian Criminal Law: Was Legal Reform Necessary?

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-160
Author(s):  
Marin Mrčela ◽  
Igor Vuletić ◽  
Goran Livazović
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Legal Reform ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Serbia And Montenegro ◽  
The Third ◽  
Rape Law ◽  
The Impact

This paper discusses the issue of negligent rape and liability for unreasonable belief in the victim`s consent in the context of Croatian criminal law. Modern rape law presents many challenges to both lawmakers and judges, with criminalizing negligence being only one of those challenges. This became more interesting in Croatia after amendments to the Criminal Code in 2011 (in effect since 2013), that criminalized unreasonable mistake of facts in the crime of rape. Croatian rape law has undergone significant changes related to these amendments. However, this paper focuses only on the aspect of unreasonable mistake of consent, this being both the most controversial and of great practical importance. The first section describes the elements of rape according to the Croatian Criminal Code along with an interpretation of those elements in the jurisprudence of the Croatian Supreme Court. Special attention is placed on the problem of mens rea and (un)reasonable belief in consent. The discussion also identifies the reasons for reform and the impact of the Sexual Offences Act of England and Wales (2003), which served as a model for Croatian legislators. The second section analyzes the results of research conducted by Croatian judges on the relevant status of the mistake of facts defense, as well as the importance of the victim`s resistance in terms of achieving a conviction, with special regard to the rate of rape convictions in Croatian law. The third section reviews comparative regional laws (Slovenia, Serbia, and Montenegro) with the goal of positioning the new Croatian rape law in a regional context. The last section discusses the necessity of criminalization of the negligent form of rape from the perspective of trends and standards created in Croatian theory and jurisprudence in the years prior to this amendment of the law.

scholarly journals The Impact of Vaillancourt v. the Queen on Canadian Criminal Law

1969 ◽  
pp. 443
Author(s):  
Isabel Grant
Keyword(s):  
Supreme Court ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Supreme Court Decision ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Court Decision ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Objective Standard ◽  
The Impact

The 1987 Supreme Court decision of Vaillancourt Struck down s. 213(d) of the Criminal Code, finding that the constructive murder provision violated ss. 7and 11(d) of the Charter. This paper looks at how the courts have since applied Vaillancourt to other sections of the Criminal Code, particularly the remaining murder provisions. The analysis is based largely on a consequence-circumstance distinction, where legally consequences involve the harm caused by the accused and the circumstances refer to conditions that must be shown to exist before there can be a conviction. However, because murder is a unique crime with a "special stigma" attached to it, courts will not allow an objective standard of mens rea to form the basis of a murder conviction.

scholarly journals AGGRAVATING AND MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES CHARACTERIZING SUBJECTIVE SIGNS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-685
Author(s):  
V.I. Tikhonov
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Special Part ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Criminal Legislation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Subjective Side

The Institute of mitigating and aggravating circumstances is presented not only in the norms of the General part of the criminal legislation of the Russian Federation. The application of these circumstances in the construction of individual elements of a crime allows the legislator to differentiate the orientation of the criminal law influence in relation to a specific crime element or in qualifying the fact of life reality. In law enforcement practice, proving the subjective side of a crime often causes significant problems. At the same time, motivation and achievement of a specific goal of committing a crime can have both a mitigating and an aggravating effect. The subjective side has a significant impact not only on the design of the offenses of the Special Part of the Criminal Law, but also on the process of sentencing through legal regulation of circumstances mitigating or aggravating criminal punishment. In this regard, both general and mandatory features of the subject of the crime also affect the procedure for establishing guilt and determining punishment in accordance with the norms of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Of scientific interest is the study of the influence of the process of legal regulation of mitigating and aggravating circumstances in terms of the impact on this process of subjective signs of criminal behavior.

scholarly journals Criminal Law Protection of Reproductive Health: Current Challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-153
Author(s):  
E. L. Sidorenko
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Human Genome ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Criminal Policy ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Criminal Legislation

The subject of the research is the specifics of the criminal law protection of reproductive health in the Russian legislation. The topic was chosen due to the increasing dynamics of crimes related to limitation on the reproductive rights of women and men and unauthorized manipulation of the human genome. Despite the growing need for providing a regulatory framework for this kind of relationships, the system of their criminal law protection is only beginning to take shape, therefore, a necessity arises to revise traditional approaches to the protection of the individual. Therefore, the purpose of the paper was to understand the system of criminal law protection of reproductive health in terms of its compliance with trends of medical practices and dynamics of socially significant diseases based on both traditional principles of scientific analysis and the results of applying sociological methods of data processing, which made it possible to identify the most significant directions of the Russian criminal policy development. Moreover, the critical analysis method was used in the research that showed the inconsistency of the system of criminal law prevention of criminal abortions, contamination with socially significant diseases and illegal use of the human genome. Based on the research findings, an author’s model of criminal prevention of attacks on reproductive health has been built and its systemic assessment is given. It is concluded that the legislator is inconsistent in assessing the attributes of an unlawful abortion; the accounting of contamination with certain socially significant diseases is inadequate; the laws prohibiting the use of the human genome need to be included into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The conclusions formulated in the paper have practical importance and can be taken into account by the legislator in the reform of the current criminal legislation.

scholarly journals Rape in Finnish criminal law and process - A discussion on, and beyond, consent

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Daniela Alaattinoğlu ◽  
Heini Kainulainen ◽  
Johanna Niemi
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Societal Change ◽  
Legal Practice ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Criminal Process ◽  
The University

Chapter 20 of the Finnish Criminal Code, which regulates sexual offences, is currently undergoing structural changes. Focusing on the section of rape, this article investigates the amendments proposed by the Ministry of Justice in 2020 in the light of the current Finnish legislation, legal practice, supranational normative developments and societal change. Lessons are drawn from a recent research project about the attrition of sexual violence in the Finnish criminal process by a research team at the University of Turku. The article welcomes the increased emphasis on voluntariness, contextuality, power imbalances and communication in the suggested draft law. It also criticises some weaknesses of the draft legislation. Conclusively, it proposes further action to improve legal clarity and strengthen the enforcement of a new legal conceptualisation of sexual violence.

9. Mixed Questions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mischa Allen
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
Questions And Answers

The Concentrate Questions and Answers series offers the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, diagram answer plans, suggested answers, and author commentary. This chapter presents sample exam questions on mixed topics. The styles adopted for criminal law examination questions can vary enormously. Some examiners will set problem questions that focus largely on one area, others will set mixed questions which cut right across the syllabus. A mixed question requires knowledge of a wide variety of often unrelated topics. There are some classic combinations such as sexual offences and offences against the person or murder/manslaughter, but candidates should be aware that some topics, such as defences and actus reus and mens rea are pervasive. Mixed questions will generally be of two types: (1) where candidates have to cover a vast number of issues briefly; (2) where candidates need to cover some issues briefly, but others in some depth. This chapter presents examples of mixed questions and suggested answers. Some typical areas for combination are presented.

5. Murder

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Child ◽  
David Ormerod
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Legal Reform ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Loss Of Self ◽  
Life Sentence ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Partial Defences ◽  
Controversial Nature

This chapter focuses on the offence of murder within the context of criminal law, with particular emphasis on its problematic and controversial nature. It first considers the definition of murder in terms of actus reus and mens rea. It then discusses the defences to murder, including general defences, specific complete defences (e.g. cases involving doctors and the treatment of terminally ill patients), and partial defences (e.g. loss of self-control, diminished responsibility, and suicide pact). It also outlines potential options for legal reform concerning the mandatory life sentence and the mens rea of murder, and concludes by presenting a structure for applying the actus reus and mens rea for murder to problem facts. Relevant cases are highlighted throughout the chapter, and there are also boxes that highlight common pitfalls to avoid and other areas of confusion for those new to the law.

Concentrate Questions and Answers Criminal Law

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mischa Allen
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
Questions And Answers ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Property Offences

The Concentrate Questions and Answers series offers the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, diagram answer plans, suggested answers, and author commentary. Concentrate Q&A Criminal Law offers advice on what to expect in exams and how best to prepare. The book starts off looking at exam and assessment techniques and then moves on to consider the elements of a crime (including actus reus and mens rea), murder and manslaughter, non-fatal offences, and sexual offences. It examines defences in detail before looking at inchoate offences, property offences, and concludes with some mixed examination questions.

Criminal Law Concentrate

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Herring
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Law

Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. Criminal Law Concentrate covers fundamental principles of this area of law and helps the reader to succeed in exams. Topics covered include the basis of criminal liability, actus reus, mens rea, and strict liability. The chapters also examine offences such as non-fatal offences, sexual offences, homicide, inchoate offences, theft, and fraud. Defences are also examined in the final two chapters. This edition has been updated to include: recent developments in the law and new cases such as Jogee, Conroy, Golds, Ivey, and Joyce; more detail on sexual offences; more revision tips and tables to improve learning; and an ‘Exam essentials’ feature.

Criminal Law Concentrate

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Herring
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Law

Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. Criminal Law Concentrate covers fundamental principles of this area of law and helps the reader to succeed in exams. Topics covered include the basis of criminal liability, actus reus, mens rea, and strict liability. The chapters also examine offences such as non-fatal offences, sexual offences, homicide, inchoate offences, theft, and fraud. Defences are also examined in the final two chapters. This edition has been updated to include: recent developments in the law and new cases such as Jogee, Conroy, Golds, Ivey, and Joyce; more detail on sexual offences; more revision tips and tables to improve learning; and an ‘Exam essentials’ feature.

scholarly journals TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGISLATION OF RUSSIA: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

2020 ◽  
pp. 85-92
Author(s):  
Vasily N. Nekrasov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Innovative Activity ◽  
Innovation Activity ◽  
Technical Innovations ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, the author tried to consider the impact of such innovation results as technology on domestic criminal law and to understand whether the legislator is ready for them. In the current Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the legislator does not once use a single general concept in relation to technical innovations, which allows to characterize its various elements. At the same time, the legislator traditionally uses such private terms as tools, means, equipment, system, etc. When considering this issue, the first thought that comes to mind is that technical innova-tions in the Criminal Code are regarded as instruments or means of committing a crime. In criminal law theory, there are many points of view on the question of distinguishing between "instrument" and "means" of crime. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation does not clearly understand the concepts under analysis. Technical innovations, such as equipment by domestic lawmakers, are regarded as instruments and means of committing a crime. The above concepts were traditionally used by the legislator to construct the norms of the Russian criminal law. At the same time, due to the active development of innovation activity, new technical innovations are appearing today, which, firstly, did not exist before, and secondly, they have a number of specific features. At the same time, definitions that were not previously used in the Russian criminal law, which allow judging about new possibilities of technology, which only stimulate the discus-sion about the legal status of technology, both in criminal law and in legislation as a whole, are already in place today. Social relations are undergoing certain changes as a result of innovative activities. In this regard, the object of crime is also being transformed. As a result, a new type of property is emerging, namely intellectual property, which is also subject to criminal law protection. It seems that today there is a need to combine the norms in the field of crimes that infringe on innovative activity into a separate group of norms. These social relations have a number of features that make it possible to consider forming them into a separate type of crime object. Separating groups of crimes in the area of innovative activity will be of great importance. In particular, it will make it possible to establish public danger in relation to a group of crimes and to analyse changes in the degree of public danger of crime depending on the type of quali-fying and attracting circumstances.

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