Concepts Of Criminal Law — Basic

: The physical commission of a prohibited act or the omission of a legal duty.

: The elements of the crime vs. the legal justifications for it. Basic Concepts of Criminal Law

Fletcher organizes the "deep structure" of criminal law into these competing concepts: : The physical commission of a prohibited act

: Defending against an attacker vs. breaking the law to prevent a greater harm. Basic Concepts of Criminal Law

: Penalizing an offender for a wrong vs. rehabilitating or treating them.

: The criminal intent or mental state (e.g., purpose, knowledge, recklessness).