Responsabilidad Penal y Creencias Erróneas en Nueva York

Explicación Simple

Si alguien comete un delito porque cree que está bien, no siempre puede evitar ser castigado. Solo si su confusión se basa en una fuente oficial, como una ley o un fallo judicial, puede que sí lo logre.

Es como si estuvieras cocinando y decides agregar un ingrediente porque crees que es saludable, pero luego descubres que es dañino. Aunque creías que era seguro, aún puedes enfermarte por haberlo comido.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan, un joven de 18 años, sale con una chica que cree que también tiene 18. Si ella resulta ser menor de edad, Juan no puede usar su confusión como defensa si es acusado de un delito. La ley no le permite alegar que no sabía su edad.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

a defense of justification as defined in article thirty-five of this chapter. 2. A person is not relieved of criminal liability for conduct because he engages in such conduct under a mistaken belief that it does not, as a matter of law, constitute an offense, unless such mistaken belief is founded upon an official statement of the law contained in (a) a statute or other enactment, or (b) an administrative order or grant of permission, or (c) a judicial decision of a state or federal court, or (d) an interpretation of the statute or law relating to the offense, officially made or issued by a public servant, agency or body legally charged or empowered with the responsibility or privilege of administering, enforcing or interpreting such statute or law. 3. Notwithstanding the use of the term " knowingly " in any provision of this chapter defining an offense in which the age of a child is an element thereof, knowledge by the defendant of the age of such child is not an element of any such offense and it is not, unless expressly so provided, a defense to a prosecution therefor that the defendant did not know the age of the child or believed such age to be the same as or greater than that specified in the statute. 4. Notwithstanding the use of the term " knowingly " in any provision of this chapter defining an offense in which the aggregate weight of a controlled substance or marihuana is an element, knowledge by the defendant of the aggregate weight of such controlled substance or