Module 5 discussion

William Osborne

When someone breaks the law it is broken regardless of it being voluntary or involuntary. Because at the end of the day whatever the person did still either hurt someone else or was out of line in society and just like any other person should be prosecuted. Of course there are levels to this, If two friends are out at a gun range and the gun blows back and kills his friend by complete accident then of course it seems fair he should have to go through the process and given some punishment because of the life being taken but there has to be some restraint because of the fact that there was no intention at all. 

Sylvia Patterson

I do not believe that a person should be held accountable for involuntary acts because the person may have no knowledge or control of what have happened. Also the question that can arise is the person mental health like whether they are insanity or non insane. There are four conditions that must exist for an act or to be omission to be considered a crime the act must considered wrong by society,  the act cause harm or a person might need protection, the harm is serious and the remedy must be handled by the criminal justice system. Often  time people must have motive to commit a crime.  Also a criminal act have to be completed before a crime exist. Every person who have been charge with a crime have a constitutional right to a fair and speedy trial. And also have to right to not testify against himself unlike in a civil case.  The right is protected under the fifth amendment. Omission is a failure to neglect some thing however under some circumstances a person can still be convicted of a crime for not acting as well. This would be omission.

 Some example are  people who do not pay their child support and alimony. Another is example is failing to pay taxes. I would say another example would be you witness a person being harm like shot and you refused to get the person medical attention and leave the scene.