Causation (law)
Criminal law
Part of the common law series
Elements
Actus reus · Mens rea
Causation · Concurrence
Scope of Criminal Liability
Complicity · Corporate · Vicarious
Inchoate offenses
Attempt · Conspiracy · Solicitation
Crimes against people
Assault · Battery
False imprisonment · Kidnapping
Mayhem · Sexual assault
Homicide Crimes
Murder · Felony murder
Manslaughter
Negligent homicide
Vehicular homicide
Crimes against property
Arson · Blackmail · Burglary
Embezzlement · Extortion
False pretenses · Larceny
Receiving stolen property
Robbery · Theft
Crimes against justice
Compounding · Misprision
Obstruction · Perjury
Malfeasance in office
Perverting the course of justice
Defenses to Liability
Defense of: (Self · Others · Property)
Consent · Diminished capacity
Duress · Entrapment · Ignorance
Infancy · Insanity · Intoxication
Justification · Mistake (Fact · Law)
Necessity · Provocation
Other common law areas
Contracts · Evidence · Property
Torts · Wills, trusts and estates
Portals
Criminal justice · Law
Causation
is
the
"causal
relationship
between conduct and result." That is to say
that causation provides a means of connect-
ing conduct, complete with actus reus, with
the resulting harm or result element. It
should be noted that causation is only applic-
able where a result has been achieved and
therefore is immaterial with regards to incho-
ate offenses.
Background concepts
Most legal systems are to a greater or lesser
extent concerned with the notions of fairness
and justice. If a state is going to penalise a
person or require that person to pay com-
pensation to another for losses incurred, this
imposition of liability will be derived from the
idea that those who injure others should take
responsibility
for their actions. Although
some parts of any legal system will have
qualities of strict liability, in which the mens
rea
is immaterial to the result and sub-
sequent liability of the actor, most look to es-
tablish liability by showing that the defend-
ant was the cause (applying various legal
tests i