A crime includes four elements:
- Conduct – the accused must engage in conduct that is voluntary and intentional, not accidental
- Actus reas (guilty act) – an external element of the crime that relates to conduct , and in most cases results in injury or loss . An act done by accident or mistake cannot be a crime .
- Mens rea (guilty mind) – an internal element of the crime that relates to the state of mind of the accused and will be either general intent or specific intent . Specific intent requires the prosecutor to prove that , when committing the actus reas, the defendant had premeditated malice in their heart. General intent only requires the prosecutor to prove that , when committing the actus reas, the defendant intended or was aware of their conduct .
- Concurrence – there must be a union between the actus reas and mens rea in order for someone to be convicted of a crime.
