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15 Wayne L. Rev. 683 (1968-1969)
Crimes of Danger

handle is hein.journals/waynlr15 and id is 697 raw text is: CRIMES OF DANGER EMILIO S. BINAVINCEt I INTRODUCTION European criminal law literature makes a distinction between crimes of danger (Gefahrdungsdelikte) and crimes of harm (Verletzungsdelikte).I The distinction lies in the nature of the undesirable consequences of these crimes: crimes of harm require for their completion the actual injury of a particular legal interest (e.g., death in murder or manslaughter). In crimes of danger, on the other hand, actual injury is not necessary for completion of the offense; it is enough that the conduct brought about a danger to the legally protected interest. Danger is generally defined as that state of affairs which, according to an objective judgment, has the potential of realizing the harm.2 A crime of danger is either a concrete crime of danger (konkretes GeJahrdungsdelikt) or abstract crime of danger (abstraktes Gefahrdungsdelikt). The distinction has evidentiary significance. In concrete crimes of danger, the prosecution must establish that the conduct actually created a danger to the legal interest, and that the negligence or intent extends to the danger. In the prosecution for an abstract crime of danger, a conclusive presumption exists that the doing of the act itself creates the required danger. Thus, the act, regardless of whether or not it created danger, is punishable; and it is also prima facie presumed that the actor had the necessary mens rea (intent or negligence) to bring about that danger3 t Associate Professor of Law, University of Ottawa. LL.B. 1957, Quezon University (Phil.); M.C.L. 1960, Tulane University; LL.M 1962, Harvard University. I. See. e.g., J. BAUMANN. STRAFRECHT, ALLGEMEINER JELL 117-18 (4th ed. 1966); R. MAURACH. DEUTSCHES STRAFRECHT, ALLGEMEINER TElL 201-02 (3d ed. 1965); SCHONKE- SCHRODER. STRAFGESETZBUCH, KOMMENTAR 46 (11th ed. 1963); H. WEIZEL, DAS DEUTSCHE STRAFRECHT 57-58 (9th ed. 1965). This distinction is also recognized in the German Democratic Republic. LEHRBUCH DES STRAFRECHTS DER DEUTSCHEN DEMOKRATISCHEN REPUBLIK. ALLGEMEINER TEIL 342 (H. Gerats, J. Lekschas & J. Renneberg ed. 1959). 2. R. MAURACH, supra note I, at 201; SCHONKE-SCHRODER, supra note I, at 46; H. XVELZEL, supra note 1, at 41. For a detailed discussion of the concept of harm see Finger, Begriyj der GeJahr und Gemneingejahr im Strafrecht, in I FESTGABE FUR REINHARD VON FRANK 230 (1930). 3. J. BAUMANN, supra note I, at 117; R. MAURACH, supra note I, at 202.

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