Deck 4: Parties to Crime

Question 1

Ashley leased one of her rental properties to Devin, a known drug dealer. Ashley was charged with accomplice liability. Which of the following is the most likely outcome?

A) Ashley is guilty under Judge Leonard Hand's standard of accomplice liability.
B) Ashley may be guilty under a purposive standard of mens rea.
C) Ashley is likely guilty under either a knowledge or purposive standard.
D) Ashley's guilt may depend on whether the illegal sale of controlled substances is considered a serious crime in the jurisdiction where she is being prosecuted.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following common law parties to a crime are the actual perpetrators of the crime?

A) accessory after the fact
B) accessory before the fact
C) principals
D) accessories

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is a concept in which the accessory's guilt flows from the acts of the primary perpetrator of the crime?

A) criminal complicity
B) derivative liability
C) purposive consequence
D) complicit liability

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Ron robbed a bank and escaped to a friend's house several miles away. Ron told the friend, who was previously unaware, that he had just robbed a bank. Which of the following is NOT true?

A) Ron's friend is guilty of being an accessory after the fact for failing to report the bank robbery.
B) Ron's friend is guilty of being an accessory after the fact if he provides Ron with money to leave town.
C) Ron's friend is guilty of being an accessory after the fact if he hides Ron in his basement.
D) Ron's friend is guilty of being an accessory after the fact if he hides the cash for safekeeping until Ron returns.

Question 5

Under the common law, the getaway driver in a bank robbery is which of the following parties to a crime?

A) accessory after the fact
B) accessory before the fact
C) principal in the first degree
D) principal in the second degree

Question 6

Which of the following common law parties to a crime assist the perpetrators of the crime?

A) principals in the first degree
B) accessories before the fact
C) principals in the second degree
D) accessories after the fact

Question 7

Walter and Lee began making plans to rob a neighborhood bank. Barry agreed to be the lookout and the getaway driver as long as he got a percentage of the stolen money. Last Wednesday, Walter and Lee entered the Hillcrest Fields Bank wearing ski masks and armed with pistols. After 10 minutes, Walter and Lee left the bank with bags of cash and began to run toward Barry's getaway car. However, they were confronted by a security officer who chased Walter and Lee from the bank. Walter fired his pistol at the officer, killing him. Which of the following is true?

A) Under the common law, Barry is liable as a principal in the second degree.
B) Under the mere presence rule, any bystander in the bank who watched the bank robbery take place is an accomplice.
C) Barry is not responsible for the security officer's death under the natural and probable consequences rule.
D) Only Walter is responsible for the death of the security officer.

Question 8

A legal concept that holds employers responsible for the crimes committed by their employees is known as ______.:

A) accomplice liability
B) vicarious liability
C) partner liability
D) public good liability

Question 9

Under the mere presence rule, an individual can satisfy the actus reus of a crime by being present and watching the commission of a crime.

Question 10

An accessory after the fact is generally punished as harshly as the perpetrator of a crime.

Question 11

Under the Model Penal Code, witness tampering is a basis for a conviction of hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Question 12

A majority of states have adopted parental responsibility laws.

Question 13

The natural and probable consequences doctrine has been rejected by a majority of courts as unfair to an accessory who lacked the intent to commit the more serious offense.

Question 14

Most jurisdictions have abandoned the common law categories of parties to a crime.

Question 15

Betty is the mother of 17-year-old Zach. Last month, Betty obliged Zach's request to have a keg of beer at his birthday party, primarily attended by other teens. Betty made sure to check each attendee before leaving for signs of intoxication. Everyone arrived home safely. Because Betty was diligent in ensuring that no one appeared to be under the influence, in most states, she would not be guilty of violating a social host liability law.

Question 16

A conviction for accomplice liability requires that a defendant both assist and intend to assist the commission of a crime.

Question 17

Under the common law, both principals and accessories were punishable as felons.

Question 18

One night, Lindsey and her friend Laura robbed a local fast-food restaurant. The two split the money equally and took their shares home. When Lindsey arrived at home, she told her husband, Ryan, about what they had done. To reduce the likelihood of suspicion, Ryan helped Lindsey hide her share of the money by placing deposits in a few different bank accounts. In a majority of states, Ryan is immune from prosecution for helping Lindsey hide the money.

Question 19

What is the difference between the principal in the first degree and an accessory before the fact? Provide an example of each.

Question 20

What are the elements of accessory after the fact? Contrast the common law view and the modern view of the extent to which accessories after the fact should be punished relative to the actual perpetrator of a crime.

Question 21

Discuss the purpose of vicarious liability laws.

Question 22

Define the natural and probable consequences doctrine and discuss the rationale of courts that have rejected the doctrine.

Question 23

What is the difference between an accomplice and an accessory? What is the rationale for holding an individual liable for the conduct of another?