Who Me???
But I didn’t commit a crime…
Preliminary Crimes
This is a crime BEFORE a crime.
 It allows police to PREVENT a worse crime
from happening.
 Not like this…

The crime of Attempt:
Murder
 Rape
 Robbery
 Etc.

For there to be the crime of
Attempt…
The accused has to INTEND to commit the
crime.
 They have to take steps towards
committing the act.

Problem…
Is the act an actual step towards
committing the crime, or merely
preparation for a crime?
 Is it attempted murder to buy a gun?

The crime of Solicitation
Murder
 Prostitution

The crime of Solicitation is when…
One person asks or compels another to
commit a crime.
Solicitation

The crime of Conspiracy

The crime of Conspiracy is when two or
more people agree to commit a crime.
This is meant to prevent the
criminal activity of groups.
But…an overt act is needed for
conviction of conspiracy.
Is conspiracy as a crime a threat to
free speech?
Trayvon Martin

What happened on February 26th?
– Martin walking home from store
– Zimmerman on neighborhood watch patrol
– Zimmerman calls 911, “we don’t need you to
do that.” Martin on phone with girlfriend
– Martin shot once in chest, dies at scene
Self-Defense?
Zimmerman NOT arrested, he claims he
acted in self-defense.
 Stand Your Ground law - Allows a citizen
to use deadly force to prevent imminent
death or another felony against
themselves.
 Nationwide protests calling for
Zimmerman’s arrest, saying that Trayvon
was a victim of racial profiling.

Your task…
Read the article about the Trayvon Martin
case and try to determine whether
Zimmerman should be arrested or not
 Highlight the key facts

– Circle facts that support Martin
– Box facts that support Zimmerman

You will get a chance to discuss after
reading.
Some food for thought…

The media has mostly used these pictures:
Obama- “If I had a son, he would look like
Trayvon”
 Why is Trayvon Martin a bigger deal than
Bo Morrison?


Zimmerman on tape