What is the difference between factual impossibility and legal impossibility?

What will be an ideal response?


Factual impossibility occurs when a defendant possesses a criminal intent but the criminal act was prevented because of an extraneous factor, which is an event outside of the defendant’s control. Factual impossibility is not recognized by the Model Penal Code and is not a valid defense to the crime of attempt. Legal impossibility, on the other hand, is an affirmative defense to the crime of attempt. Legal impossibility occurs when an individual mistakenly believes that he or she is acting illegally.

Criminal Justice

You might also like to view...

Sectors are typically how many bytes in size?

a. 126 b. 256 c. 512 d. 1,024

Criminal Justice

The ___________ forms the basis of federal enforcement efforts today

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Criminal Justice

The crime of solicitation is based upon the soliciting party's intent and not the receiving party's understanding

a. True b. False

Criminal Justice

Police departments sometimes use a ________ structure in response to a major crime that has occurred within the community that needs input from a variety of sources within the police department

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Criminal Justice