Advanced Criminal Law: My Outline Beginning with Territorial Jurisdiction

  • Territorial Jurisdiction:

–A. Common law: a crime can only be charged in a jurisdiction if the essential/key/vital or gravamen of the offense takes place in the jurisdiction. The case may only be prosecuted in the jurisdiction where the key element of the crime was prosecuted.

–B. Alternate rule: a crime may be charged in the jurisdiction if any element of the crime occurred within the jurisdiction. Maryland has not adopted such a statute.