Discussion 1

Define the crimes of voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and negligent homicide. Provide examples for each type of homicide. Evaluate whether the felony murder rule would apply to any (or all) of the three crimes?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates' posts by Day 7. Focus on how mens rea affects the type and degree of homicide and how it shapes the charge that can be proven in court

Discussion 2

Which crime, robbery or extortion, is more harmful to the victim of the crime? Discuss the similarities and the differences between these two crimes. Your primary response should examine the potential culpability of the victim for either crime. Does the fact that the victim may have done something wrong affect your viewpoint of the heinousness of either crime?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates' posts by Day 7. Robbery and extortion contain similar elements as far as how the victim is harmed; however, both crimes follow very different routes to their commission. Should one crime be punished more severely than another? Your response to this question will challenge your views on how we measure the appropriate punishment for crimes. If the victim "causes" the ability for the crime of extortion, should people be punished less than the person committing the average robbery?