Is a person who commits a criminal act "without being conscious thereof" legally incapable of committing the crime?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Carr, B226442 (Cal. App. 2011):

A person who commits a criminal act "without being conscious thereof" is legally incapable of committing a crime. (Pen. Code, 26, subd. Four.) The unconsciousness law applies when a person is "not conscious of his or her actions" because he or she is asleep, or suffering from an illness, injury, involuntary drug or alcohol intoxication, or similar condition. (CALCRIM No. 3425.) Legal unconsciousness does not mean that a person lies still or is otherwise immobile; a person is unconscious when he physically acts but is not, at the time, conscious of acting. (People v. Rogers (2006) 39 Cal.4th 826, 887.)

Other Questions


Is a person who committed a crime "under an ignorance or mistake of fact which disproves any criminal intent" incapable of committing the crime? (California, United States of America)
If a criminal commits a crime in a different county than the one where the crime was committed, would that change the outcome of the criminal trial if the crime occurred in the other county? (California, United States of America)
Is a person who aids or abets a crime liable for the crime if the original crime was committed independently by another person? (California, United States of America)
Is a person who knowingly aids and abets criminal conduct guilty of not only the intended crime but also of any other crime the perpetrator actually commits when they commit? (California, United States of America)
Does Section 186.22, subdivision (b)(1)(1) of the California Criminal Code apply to a person convicted of a criminal street crime committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang? (California, United States of America)
When a police officer has an objective, reasonable, articulable suspicion a person has committed a crime or is about to commit a crime, can the officer briefly detain the person? (California, United States of America)
Does Section 26 exempt a person from criminal liability under section 26 of the California Criminal Code from a general intent crime if they committed the crime while unconscious? (California, United States of America)
When a defendant admits committing a crime but denies the necessary intent for the charged crime because of mistake or accident, is intent to commit the crime admissible? (California, United States of America)
Does section 27 of the California Criminal Code, section 778a, subdivision (a)(1) of the Criminal Code of California apply to a defendant who is charged with a charge of conspiracy to commit a crime committed outside of the state? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a finding that a crime committed by appellant was committed with the specific intent to commit a crime against a specific gang member? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.