The Illinois Criminal Code Paper Example

Introduction

The Illinois criminal code contains information regarding criminal acts performed within the state of Illinois, and thus its jurisdiction extends just as much as the state does. The criminal code defines intent as a situation where an individual intends or acts with intent or acts intentionally to accomplish a result that as stated by the law is wrong or unlawful. When the individual has a conscious purpose or objective to accomplish a particular result that does not conform to the laws, then he is believed to have acted in intent.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

On most occasions under the common law, most or all crimes are composed of an action that was carried out with a guilty conscience. Therefore, in the contemporary world, criminal intent can be the base for fault and consequently punishment, which is a core principle for criminal justice.

According to the law, classification can be done according to the element of intent. For instance, crimes that possess a malicious or evil intent tend to subject the defendant to the most severe punishment, while on the other hand, crimes that lack the element of intent tend to be less common and do not attract severe punishments as they are regarded as infractions (Thompson DiVito Baroni & Saltmarsh, 2007).

Malice afterthought is common law often designated to the crime of murder. It is also often referred to as the intent to kill and thus is regarded as the evilest crime by the society. As such, malice afterthought crimes for instance first and second-degree murder attract the most severe punishments under most laws around the world.

List 5 offenses against a person

The first offense against a person as recognized by the Illinois criminal code is kidnapping. As outlined, one knowingly commits a kidnapping offense when he or she: secretly confines another person against their will or, when he or she forcibly carries another person from one place and position to another with the purpose of secretly keeping them there.

Also, one is believed to kidnap another when he or she uses enticement or deceit to induce another person to move from one place to another with the intention of confining them against their will.Also, kidnapping may be the confinement of a minor under 13 years or of a person who is suffering from disability without their consent.

The second crime against persons as outlined in the Illinois criminal code is a home invasion. One commits home invasion when he or she enters the residence of another person knowingly without permission from the owner. The home invader has to remain in the residence until he is completely aware that the homeowner or one of the members of the house is aware of their presence.

The third crime is known as arson. It could be a place of worship arson or residential arson. A person is said to commit arson when he or she knowingly uses fire; to damage personal property worth more than $150 belonging to another person, or when he or she intends to defraud an insurer by damaging any kind of property worth $150 or more (Thompson DiVito Baroni & Saltmarsh, 2007).

The fourth crime against persons is aggravated kidnapping and occurs when one kidnaps an individual and retains him or her with the purpose of obtaining ransom from the person he has kidnaped or from another person, or when the victim is a 13 year old minor or a person with a disability. This is also true when the kidnapper intentionally physically harms his victim.

The final crime against persons as outlined by the Illinois criminal code is concealment of a death. A person is found to be guilty when he or she knowingly hides facts and details about the death of another individual who may have died to any other reasons other hand homicide. Also, one is found guilty when he or she moves the body of a dead person from the original place to another with the intention of concealing information and hiding facts (Thompson DiVito Baroni & Saltmarsh, 2007).

List 5 offenses against public health, safety, and decency

There exist several crimes against safety, public health, and decency as outlined by the Illinois criminal code. The first crime against safety is arson. An individual is said to commit residential arson when he or she knowingly destroys wholly or partially a building considered to be a place where another individual resides. On the other hand, one is said to commit place of worship arson when he or she knowingly destroys wholly or partially any place considered to be of worship.

The second crime against safety is possession of incendiary devices or explosives. One is said to commit this crime when he or she is found in possession of explosives in violation of the law, or when he or she transports possesses or manufactures any explosive material or detonating device, and plans on using the explosive or the device to commit an offense. He or she is also guilty if knowledgeable that another individual intends to use the device or the explosive to commit a crime.

The third offense is a crime against decency. A person is said to be indecent under Illinois state laws when he or she engages in the act of sexual penetration or conduct in a public place, or when he or she knowingly expose their body with the intent of arousing another person.

The fourth crime is against public safety and includes public nuisance. One is said to interfere with the health safety of other when he or she knowingly allows or causes the carcass of any animal, filth or any noisome substance to be deposited or moved to a place that poses a risk to others.

The final offense discussed here is the crime of intimidation. One is considered guilty when he or she knowingly intimidate another person to inflict fear on them even if they do not intend on executing the threat (Thompson DiVito Baroni & Saltmarsh, 2007).

According to the Illinois Code, what are the elements of the offense of forgery?

Forgery occurs when one knowingly and with intent produces a false document or makes changes to an already existing document making the document capable of defrauding another person. Forgery can also be when a person possesses or issues a falsified document with the knowledge that the original contents have been altered, for instance; presenting a fraudulent cheque at a bank. Forgery can also be when one knowingly uses the signature of another person for any malicious purposes or when he or she uses another person's device's signature such as a pin to create his/her own.

References

Thompson, J. R., DiVito, G., Baroni, P. G., & Saltmarsh, K. (2007). The Illinois Criminal Code of 2009: Providing Clarity in the Law. J. Marshall L. Rev., 41, 815.