"This handbook ... fills a legal educational gap by exploring basic concepts of substantive criminal law in three major European legal systems: the common law system of England and Wales and the civil law systems of Germany and the Netherlands. Each chapter focuses on a specific concept or doctrine that is necessary to determine criminal liability (e.g. actus reus, mens rea, defences, inchoate offences). Throughout the book the authors also highlight and discuss some recent legislative and judicial developments that broaden the scope of criminal liability in our modern culture of control"--Back cover.
In the United States today criminal justice can vary from state to state, as various states alter the Modern Penal Code to suit their own local preferences and concerns. In Eastern Europe, the post-Communist countries are quickly adopting new criminal codes to reflect their specific national concerns as they gain autonomy from what was once a centralized Soviet policy. As commonalities among countries and states disintegrate, how are we to view the basic concepts of criminal law as a whole? Eminent legal scholar George Fletcher acknowledges that criminal law is becoming increasingly localized, with every country and state adopting their own conception of punishable behavior, determining their own definitions of offenses. Yet by taking a step back from the details and linguistic variations of the criminal codes, Fletcher is able to perceive an underlying unity among diverse systems of criminal justice. Challenging common assumptions, he discovers a unity that emerges not on the surface of statutory rules and case law but in the underlying debates that inform them. Basic Concepts of Criminal Law identifies a set of twelve distinctions that shape and guide the controversies that inevitably break out in every system of criminal justice. Devoting a chapter to each of these twelve concepts, Fletcher maps out what he considers to be the deep structure of all systems of criminal law. Understanding these distinctions will not only enable students to appreciate the universal fundamental ideas of criminal law, but will enable them to understand the significance of local details and variations. This accessible illustration of the unity of diverse systems of criminal justice will provoke and inform students and scholars of law and the philosophy of law, as well as lawyers seeking a better understanding of the law they practice.
This book offers an accessible introduction to comparative criminal justice and examines and reflects on the ways different countries and jurisdictions deal with the main stages in the criminal justice process, from policing to sentencing. This popular bestseller has been fully updated and expanded for the third edition. This textbook provides the reader with: a comparative perspective on criminal justice and its main components; a knowledge of methodology for comparative research and analysis; an understanding of the emerging concepts in comparative criminal justice, such as security, surveillance, retribution and rehabilitation; a discussion of global trends such as the global drop in crime, the punitive turn, penal populism, privatization, international policing and international criminal tribunals. The new edition has been fully updated to keep abreast with this growing field of study and research, including increased coverage of the challenge of globalization and its role and influence on criminal justice systems around the world. Topics such as state crime, genocide and the international criminal court have also grown in prominence since the publication of the last edition and are given increased coverage. This book will be perfect reading for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates taking courses in comparative criminal justice and those who are engaged in the study of global responses to crime. New features such as lists of further reading, study questions and boxed case studies help bring comparative criminal justice alive for students and instructors alike.
A book that students find interesting and instructors consider educationally valuable, this Fifth Edition of Contemporary Criminal Law combines traditional concepts with thought-provoking cases and engaging learning tools. Taking a casebook approach, the text covers both foundational and emerging legal topics such as terrorism, gangs, cybercrime, and hate crimes, illustrated by real-life examples that students connect with. Clear explanations of criminal law and defenses are complemented by provocative, well-edited cases followed by discussion questions to stimulate critical thinking and in-class discussion. The book provides a contemporary perspective on criminal law that encourages students to actively read and analyze the text. The Fifth Edition is enhanced throughout by new cases that offer the most up-to-date coverage of evolving legal opinions and developments in criminal law. New to This Edition New cases illuminate important concepts, including decisions on criminal acts, criminal intent, parties, corporate crime, kidnapping, identity theft, computer crime, prostitution, terrorism, and more. One or more new You Decide sections in most chapters clarify concepts to illustrate the complexity of legal analysis and enhance the interactive character of the text. Additional hypothetical problems are available on the companion site. New Crime in the News features look at recent events such as the criminal trial of Dylann Roof, the dark web, and the leaking of confidential government documents to help students apply important concepts to real-world scenarios. New and expanded discussions of critical topics cover the Second Amendment and gun control, the Trump administration's stance on marijuana, sentencing guidelines, and criminal defenses.
This book aims to meet the need for an accessible introductory text on comparative criminal justice, examining the ways different countries and jurisdictions deal with the main stages and elements in the criminal justice process, from policing through to sentencing. Examples are taken from all over the world, with a particular focus on Europe, the UK, the United States and Australasia. The main aims of the book are to provide the reader with: a comparative perspective on criminal justice and its main components an understanding of the increasing globalization of justice and standards of the administration of justice a knowledge of methodology for comparative research and analysis an understanding of the most important concepts in criminal justice (such as inquisitorial and adversarial trial systems, policing styles, crime control versus due process, retribution versus rehabilitation etc) discussion of global trends such as the rise of imprisonment, penal populism, diversion, international policing and international tribunals an insight into what the essential ingredients of doing justice might be. This fully updated and expanded new edition of Comparative Criminal Justice takes into account the considerable advances in comparative criminal justice research since the first edition in 2004. Each chapter has been thoroughly updated and in addition, there is a new chapter on establishing the rate of crime in a comparative context. The rate of development in international policing and international development has been such that there is now an individual chapter devoted to each; and throughout the book, the role of globalization, changing both the local and the global in criminal justice arrangements, orientations and discourses, has now been given the prominence it deserves.
For junior/senior-level courses in Comparative (or International) Criminal Justice Systems, Comparative Criminology, and Comparative Government. Unique in approach, this is the only comparative criminal justice text that follows a natural progression from law, police, courts, to corrections, and that explores these topics, individually, by using over 30 different countries to show the different ways policing, adjudication, and corrections can be carried out.
This author team had students in mind when they wrote the book on Criminal Law. Criminal Law: Core Concepts uses examples and case excerpts that are interesting and informative, along with logically organized, plain-English discussion of the Model Penal Code. This is the basis for developing a solid understanding of criminal law concepts. One look inside this book and you ll notice that every page promises unobstructed learning. You ll see an uncluttered page design, uncluttered coverage, writing uncluttered by legalese, and case excerpts uncluttered by extraneous detail Everything in this book serves a purpose. Criminal Law: Core Concepts features: A commitment to clarity, reflected in the writing style, organization, pedagogy, and design Shrewd case editing that hones in on salient themes and principles Engaging and informative examples throughout the text Plain English discussion of the Model Penal Code Timely coverage of contemporary topics, such as street crime
