Objective elements of an offence

In criminal law, the objective elements of an offence describe what must be externally realised before liability is considered. They typically include the prohibited act or omission, the protected legal interest, the object or victim, any required result and the causal link between conduct and result. Some offences also require specific circumstances, such as a public place or official status. In Swiss doctrine, these elements are examined before unlawfulness and culpability, together with the subjective elements. If an objective element is missing, the completed offence is not made out, though attempt may be considered.