Actus reus

The actus reus ? sometimes called the external elements of a crime ? is the criminal act which, in combination with the mens rea, produces criminal liability in common law based criminal law jurisdictions such as the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
Mens rea - Liability - Common law - Criminal law - Jurisdiction - United States - Australia - Canada - United Kingdom

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According to criminal jurisprudence, there must be a concurrence of both actus reus and mens rea for a crime to have been committed.

Related Topics:
Jurisprudence - Concurrence

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The phrase derives from a quotation from Edward Coke actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea,1 which roughly translated means "an act does not make someone a criminal unless (their) mind is guilty."

Related Topics:
Edward Coke - 1

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