International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA) Criminal Law Practice Exam

In the scenario described, what crime did Jordan commit when he entered the house?

1. Burglary

2. Tax Fraud only

3. Residential Entry

4. Both Tax Fraud and Residential Entry

The correct answer is: Residential Entry

In the context of the scenario provided, the act of entering a house without permission is correctly categorized as residential entry. This crime involves the unlawful entry into a dwelling, which typically requires the intent to commit an unlawful act inside the premises. If Jordan entered the house without permission, it satisfies the definition of residential entry. When considering the possibilities of burglary, it is important to note that burglary not only involves unlawfully entering a structure but also usually entails the intent to commit a further crime while inside, such as theft. If it has not been established that Jordan intended to commit a crime beyond merely entering, residential entry is a more accurate classification. Tax fraud is a separate offense that involves illegal activities related to tax obligations. Unless explicit evidence indicates that Jordan was engaged in tax fraud during the entry, it is not relevant to the crime of illegally entering a residence. Therefore, asserting that only residential entry was committed acknowledges the specifics of the definition without conflating it with other potential offenses for which there may not be sufficient evidence in the given scenario.