carjacking | Definition

Course: Criminal Law

Carjacking is the forceful or threatening theft of a vehicle, often with the victim inside, leading to serious legal consequences for the perpetrator.


Carjacking is the crime of taking a vehicle from someone by force or threat of violence, often while the victim is still inside the car. This serious crime can lead to severe consequences for the perpetrator, including lengthy prison sentences. Carjacking can be motivated by various factors, such as a desire for transportation, a desire to commit other crimes using the stolen vehicle, or a desire to rob the victim of personal belongings or valuables. Often associated with urban areas, carjacking may be more common in regions with high crime rates.

Model Penal Code and Carjacking

The Model Penal Code (MPC), a set of guidelines created by the American Law Institute to standardize and simplify criminal law across the United States, does not specifically mention carjacking as a separate crime. However, carjacking can be classified under several offenses outlined in the MPC, such as robbery, theft, or kidnapping. For example, carjacking can fall under the definition of robbery, which is defined in Section 222.1 of the MPC as the act of “inflicting or threatening serious bodily injury upon another person in the course of committing a theft.”

Legal Consequences of Carjacking

Given that carjacking typically involves the use of force or the threat of violence, it is often considered a more severe crime than simple theft. As a result, the legal consequences of carjacking can be quite serious. In many states, carjacking is classified as a felony, which can lead to a lengthy prison sentence if the perpetrator is convicted. The specific penalties for carjacking can vary by jurisdiction, but they often include imprisonment, fines, or both.

Factors that can influence the severity of the punishment for carjacking include the level of violence used during the crime, whether a weapon was involved, the value of the stolen vehicle, and whether the perpetrator has a prior criminal record. In some cases, carjacking can be prosecuted as a federal crime, leading to even more severe penalties.

Challenges in Prosecuting Cases

Prosecuting carjacking cases can be challenging due to the need to prove several elements beyond a reasonable doubt. For instance, the prosecution must establish that the defendant used force or the threat of violence in the course of taking the vehicle and that the victim was either in the vehicle or was directly threatened with violence. Additionally, the prosecution must prove that the defendant intended to take the vehicle permanently or temporarily deprive the owner of its use.

In some jurisdictions, there may be specific statutes that address it, making it easier to prosecute these cases. In other jurisdictions, prosecutors may rely on the more general robbery, theft, or kidnapping statutes provided by the Model Penal Code or state criminal codes.

In conclusion, carjacking is a serious crime with potentially severe consequences for both the perpetrator and the victim. The Model Penal Code, while not explicitly addressing it, provides guidelines for classifying and prosecuting the offense under related crimes such as robbery, theft, or kidnapping. By understanding the legal framework surrounding this violent crime, one can better comprehend the intricacies of this dangerous crime and its impact on the criminal justice system.


[ Glossary ]

Last Modified: 05/07/2023

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