Law Commons^™

Switzerland's "Summary Penalty Order" System: Should A Similar System Be Used For America's Minor Crimes?, Kirk Earl

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

Jack Ford did not think he was committing a crime when his girlfriend let him spend the night with her at a house in Baltimore. However, what Ford did not know was that the owner of the house had not given permission for the couple to stay there. Ford was arrested and charged with burglary in the fourth degree, which is a misdemeanor in the state of Maryland. Ford’s attorney believed that Ford would have a strong case at trial because he did not know that he was not allowed in the house, so there was no intent to commit …